Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver’s two-year-old son died in an accident at his home near Houston earlier this summer, reports confirmed on Saturday.
The veteran defensive tackle has been with the team throughout the summer, weeks after reports emerged of an accidental drowning at his home near his native Houston. Sources confirmed on Saturday that Oliver’s son died in the accident.
Ed Oliver’s Son Died This Summer, Reporters Confirm
NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe confirmed the news on Saturday, noting that Oliver’s family was asking for privacy.
“Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver and his family have been mourning the tragic loss of his son, and he is asking, per a source close to him, for ‘privacy and prayers at this very difficult time,’ ” Wolfe shared in a post on X.
Reporter Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News confirmed details, which emerged on social media on Friday.
“While preparing for his eighth NFL season with the Buffalo Bills, defensive tackle Ed Oliver and his family are mourning the loss of his 2-year-old son in a tragic drowning that occurred at the family’s home in Houston,” Lysowski wrote.
The Houston Chronicle shared details of the drowning at the time, though did not name Oliver or his son.
“A toddler died after he was found unresponsive in a Huffman swimming pool Sunday night, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office,” the report noted.
“The toddler was believed to be 2 years old, Detective Dustin Davis said in a briefing filmed by OnScene TV. The drowning occurred on the 500 block of Lago Trace Drive, and sheriff’s deputies responded at about 6:15 p.m., he said. The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
Ed Oliver Returned to Bills for Training Camp
Oliver has been active at the team’s training camp, making a big impression after returning from an injury-shortened 2025 season. The veteran defensive tackle missed months after suffering a bicep injury, returning for the start of the team’s playoff run.
He earned good reviews for his performance in training camp, with veteran edge rusher Michael Hoecht said he liked playing alongside Oliver.
“Having somebody with that athletic talent that can fire off the rock (is amazing),” Hoecht said, via Syracuse.com. “The fun part about training camp is figuring out who guys are. You almost learn how to read each other’s mannerisms. So you start to figure out – is this the Ed who is just gonna grab somebody and lift them off the line, or is he gonna fly off the ball? That’s what we’re doing out there. … But it’s cool. There are very few people who can do what he does.”
Oliver suffered an injury this week, missing several days of practice and the team’s joint practices against the Cleveland Browns. Reporter Matt Parrino noted that Oliver also remained back for the team’s preseason game against the Browns on Saturday.
“Oliver did not make the trip to Cleveland as he continues to deal with an injury that’s forced him out of practice the past few days,” Parrino shared in a post on X.
Bills DT Ed Oliver’s 2-Year-Old Son Died in Tragic Accident, Report Confirms