houston Former Houston Texans president Jamie Roots has died of mental health issues, his wife Melissa Roots confirmed on social media Monday night.

Melissa said Jamie, 56, died Sunday in Houston.

“Our family is heartbroken to confirm that Jamie Roots passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2022 in Houston, Texas after a battle with mental health issues. Best known for his devotion to and friends, he was also the former chairman of the Houston Texans, who retired in 2021.

Jamie is a dedicated Houston citizen, loves his city and has impacted the lives of many through his professional, academic and philanthropic activities. Our family has requested privacy and will not respond to media inquiries. Details of a celebration celebrating Jamie’s life will be announced at a later date.

If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts or experiencing a health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline today at 1-800-273-8255.

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Roots joined the Texans in 2000 and oversaw many things during his tenure, including the creation and launch of the team’s identity, until his retirement in 2021. He was also responsible for all of the Texans’ business functions, according to the release.

After retiring from the Texans, Roots was briefly named CEO of Dynamo and Dash, but resigned after less than three weeks.

Rice University announced today, August 19, that Roots will join the university’s School of Sports Management to head the newly formed Hutchinson Leadership Initiative for Sports Analytics. The university has not yet released a statement regarding his passing.

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Roots holds a BA in Marketing from Clemson University and an MBA from Indiana University Bloomington.