What happened to Ed Oliver’s son is a drowning at the family’s Texas home on June 28. The two-year-old, also named Ed, was pronounced dead that evening, and the Bills did not announce the loss until August 22.
The confirmed record is thin: a drowning reported by TMZ and The Associated Press, an open sheriff’s investigation, and a statement from the Bills. Oliver has asked for privacy and prayers, and quarterback Josh Allen said the way the news leaked made him “very, very sad and angry.”
What Happened to Ed Oliver’s Son?
Ed Oliver’s 2-year-old son, Ed, drowned in the swimming pool at the family’s home in Harris County, Texas, on June 28, 2026. He was found unresponsive by his parents and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital that evening.
Deputies responded to an in-progress life-in-danger call at the home that evening, TMZ reported. First responders were told the parents had found the boy unresponsive in the pool, and he was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office posted a note on its Facebook account that same evening about a toddler who drowned in a neighborhood community north of Houston, without naming the child or the family.
“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the toddler’s family during this incredibly difficult time. The investigation is ongoing,” the post read, per The Associated Press.
A person briefed on what happened told The Associated Press about the June 28 events on condition of anonymity, because the team and the player have not revealed that information themselves.
Timeline: June 28 to August 22
- June 28: The boy is found unresponsive in the pool and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital that evening.
- Late July: Video surfaces of Oliver speaking with a sheriff’s deputy outside the home, visibly distraught.
- July 28: Oliver reports to Bills training camp on time, weeks after the loss.
- July 29 and 31: The Buffalo News files records requests with the sheriff’s office; the office later shares a letter to the Texas attorney general seeking approval to withhold the records.
- August 20: Oliver misses a joint practice with the Browns because of an undisclosed injury.
- August 22: TMZ reports the death, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network says the family is asking for privacy and prayers, Brandon Beane issues the Bills’ statement, and the Bills play Cleveland hours later.
Who Was Ed Oliver’s Son?
Ed Oliver’s son was named Ed, after his father, and was two years old, just shy of his second birthday when he died. Oliver also has a daughter, Ava.
TMZ Sports published a clip of Oliver playing with his son as a baby after the news broke, titled “Ed Oliver Plays With Late Son As A Baby”.
How Old Is Ed Oliver?
Ed Oliver is 28. The Buffalo Bills drafted him with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Houston, and he is entering his eighth NFL season.
His son was also named Ed, so “Ed Oliver” in a headline can refer to either the 28-year-old defensive tackle or the two-year-old who died.
What’s Going On With Ed Oliver Now?
Ed Oliver reported to Bills training camp on time in late July. He has not practiced this week because of an undisclosed injury, and the team has not given a timeline for his return.
He had appeared with the starters in the preseason-opening 29-14 win over Carolina. The Bills played Cleveland on August 22, the day the news became public, and Oliver did not attend that game.
The Bills Knew Since June and Kept It Private
The Bills learned about the death when it happened in June and chose not to announce it. The story became public on August 22, when TMZ reported the drowning and Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network said Oliver and his family were asking for “privacy and prayers at this very difficult time.”
General manager Brandon Beane said in a statement: “On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son. It’s an unthinkable tragedy for any parent. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss.”
Josh Allen directed his anger at how the news reached the public. “How it came out makes me very, very sad and angry at the same time,” Allen said, per Matt Parrino of New York Upstate, as reported by EssentiallySports. “It’s no one’s place to really let that out there except him and his family when the time came for it.”
Allen also described what the team has been doing: giving Oliver space while staying close. “It’s very hard to wrap your mind around a teammate going through a situation like that,” he said. “You never want to put yourself in that situation or those shoes. He’s a strong man.”
Head coach Joe Brady, in his first season, said he could not fathom what Oliver is going through. “As a coach and a father, there really aren’t words to describe it,” Brady said. “All I can do is support him in whatever way he needs.”
The Buffalo News had been pressing for details since late July, filing records requests with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office on July 29 and again on July 31. The office responded by sharing a letter it had sent to the Texas attorney general, seeking approval to deny the newspaper’s request. Officials have kept the child’s name, age, and gender out of their public posts, and a sheriff’s official told The Associated Press on August 22 that a report was not immediately available.
The Questions Around Ed Oliver’s Son
What happened to Ed Oliver’s son?
Ed Oliver’s 2-year-old son, Ed, drowned in the pool at the family’s Texas home on June 28, 2026, and was pronounced dead that evening. The Bills announced the loss on August 22.
What happened to a Buffalo Bills player?
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver lost his 2-year-old son, Ed, who drowned in a pool at the family’s home in Harris County, Texas, on June 28. Oliver has asked for privacy while the investigation continues.
What NFL player lost his son before a game?
Ed Oliver. His 2-year-old son died in June, and the Bills made the loss public hours before their preseason game in Cleveland on August 22, a game Oliver did not play in.
Who was Ed Oliver?
Ed Oliver is the Bills’ 28-year-old defensive tackle, selected ninth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. His son, also named Ed, died at age two in June 2026.
The public record ends there: a drowning reported by TMZ and The Associated Press, an investigation that has not produced a report, and a Bills team that says its support for Oliver will stay private.
