Springfield native and former New England Patriots defensive tackle Ron Brace has passed away at age 29.

A cousin, Shaunta Brace, confirmed the news to MassLive Sunday afternoon.

The cause of Brace's death was not suspicious, according to Police Capt. Robert Strzempek.



Police were called to Brace's home in Springfield shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday for an unattended death.



When police arrived there were no obvious signs of the cause of his death. The case has been turned over to the Hampden County Medical Examiner's Office.

A 6-foot-3, 330-pound nose tackle, Brace was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played in 39 career games with the Pats before he was released in December, 2012. He signed with Washington in 2013, but did not make it through final cuts.

Brace, who starred at Boston College from 2005-08, grew up in Springfield and attended Burncoat high school in Worcester, where he earned All-State honors in football and track and field.

Friends and family members wrote tribute posts on social media Sunday to honor Brace's life.

Al Washington, who played defensive tackle at Boston College from 2002-05 and now works on the coaching staff, posted this note to Twitter "Words cannot express how deeply saddened I am at the loss of my teammate my friend and my brother Ron Brace. Just two weeks ago we connected when you expressed interest in becoming a coach. It pains me to think about all the lives you would have impacted and changed for the better."

Former Boston College running back A.J. Brooks wrote on Facebook: "Just got a call that God has called one of my brothers home with him. Ron Brace was one of us, he was a goodfella and this definitely hurts. 2004 we all came into BC together and we'll always be connected. Prayers go out to the Brace family. Cherish each day God has given you on this earth because you never know when it's your last. Rest easy big guy."

Brace was active in the Springfield community throughout his professional career. In 2011, he hosted a charity event to aid Springfield's tornado relief efforts.

"That's where I was born and raised," Brace told NESN in June 2011. "That made me the person I am today. That's why I got it tattooed on my back. I can't forget where I came from. Everybody I love lives there. I can't look at it like it is now. I've got to have it back to the way I know it is and the way I know it could be."

In a 2012 interview with MassLive, Brace's aunt, Rhonda Brace, recalled the family's reaction when the Patriots nabbed him in the second round of the draft.

"Here he is, on the phone with (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft and (coach) Bill Belichick," Rhonda said. ""We were not looking for his name to be called. We were just awestruck, and so ecstatic."

Before Super Bowl XLVI, Brace said his career with the Pats was a "blessing."

"I'm living every Massachusetts football player's dream -- went to BC, got drafted by the hometown team and now we're on the verge of going to the Super Bowl and trying to win it," Brace said, via The Herald. "I'm lucky, and I've got to live up every moment."

Springfield Republican staff writer Jeanette Deforge contributed to this report.