Syracuse, N.Y. -- Former Syracuse football player Chris Gedney died Friday at the age of 47.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Gedney," Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement. "Chris was a wonderful co-worker, a friend to all and deeply loyal to Syracuse University and our community. A Syracuse graduate, Chris was a decorated football student-athlete, who served as a mentor to many who followed him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gedney family during this difficult time."

A consensus All-American for the Orangemen in 1992 who returned to work for his alma mater, Gedney set program records for receptions by a tight end in a season (34 in 1992) and career (91). The Liverpool High School graduate played in the Peach Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl, experienced a 35-12-2 stretch under head coaches Dick MacPherson and Paul Pasqualoni, and was named to SU's All-Century football team in 2002.

After graduating from SU with a bachelor's degree in speech communication, Gedney went on to have a seven-year NFL career, playing for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.

He started his broadcasting career in 1996, working for Classic Worldwide Productions on college and professional calls before serving as a football analyst on XTRA Sports 910 Radio for Arizona Cardinal broadcasts and the Insight.com Bowl. He also appeared as a pregame and postgame host for Cardinal home game broadcasts, as well as a guest NFL analyst on the Arizona Fox Sports Network.

Gedney ultimately moved back to Syracuse and was promoted to senior associate athletic director for major gifts in May 2011. A member of the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, he was tasked with soliciting donations for SU Athletics and managing the pool of potential donors. Gedney also served as an analyst for the Syracuse IMG Sports Network, calling SU football games with Matt Park.

In the community, Gedney served on the National Down Syndrome Society Board of Directors and the Imagine Syracuse Executive Board of Directors, per SU Athletics. He was also active with the New York State Special Olympics and the Southwest Chapter of Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.