North Cook News

Matt Ulrich, a former Indianapolis Colts lineman and captain at Northwest University, died by suicide at age of 41 on Nov. 5.

Ulrich's longtime friend, Mark Victoria, who graduated from Streamwood High School with Ulrich, expressed his deep emotions and memories in a heartfelt Facebook post.

Victoria, who had known Ulrich since kindergarten, revealed the profound impact of Ulrich's passing on his own life.

Matt Ulrich with his sons. | Facebook / Matt Ulrich

The post painted a vivid picture of their enduring friendship, spanning from their early school days in Glenbrook to shared adventures in Canton, Streamwood and college.

“I’m not going to lie. This past week has been really emotional for me,” Victoria said.

“On Monday I found out my friend Matt Ulrich took his own life. The details are not fully known, but a piece of me died that day too.”

“You see, I have known him since kindergarten. Me and Jeremy have probably known him the longest. The memories from Glenbrook, to Canton, to Streamwood, to college is countless.”

“I remember in kindergarten where I wanted to play with the train set and he was so salty by it that to this day probably resents me for it.

“Or the time in high school where we skipped a school day in January to go to downtown Chicago, only to freeze our asses off just because we can.”

“We would rock out to Nirvana in my dad’s 1989 Toyota Camry. The speakers were all busted, sound hella crackly, but we had big smiles on our face.”

“Or the time where we partied a little too hard both here in Streamwood and at Northwestern with the football team.”

“I remember going to Indy seeing play for the Colts and eventually texting him before Super Bowl XLI saying, 'hey man, go Bears, but more importantly, GO YOU!'”

"Sadly, life took us to different directions. He found a home and built a family in Montana, whilst my journey went from Iowa back to Streamwood. But I know had we seen each other it would’ve been like no time had passed.”

“Old friend, you may be gone, but you will not be forgotten. I know we will meet again someday in the ethereal plane.”

“Till again old friend. RIP”

Ulrich, played for the Colts from 2005-06, contributing to the team's victory in Super Bowl XLI against the Bears.

Despite a relatively short NFL career, Ulrich reflected on the pinnacle moment of winning the Super Bowl, emphasizing the fleeting nature of success in professional football.

“Again, seeing the confetti come down Colts colors and be able to hold the Lombardi Trophy, everyone being on the field, I had to remind myself to take one moment for myself – it was good advice I got from someone that if you do win it take that last moment to look back at the tunnel and just look at the scoreboard, look at the field, and just know you’re at the pinnacle of sports. And that’s quite an awesome feeling,” Ulrich told Montanasports.com.

After retiring from the sport, Ulrich ventured into corporate roles such as chief growth officer and partner at PIE in Montana, balancing his professional pursuits with contributions to studies on football players' health and acquiring education certifications from Stanford and Harvard Business School.

Ulrich is survived by his wife, Alison, and his four pre-teen sons — Gunther, Dalton, Bowden and Thoreau.

Ulrich’s wife, Alison, addressed his death in a Facebook post.

"As many of you know, our beloved, one of a kind Matt has passed away and is in a better place," she said. "Matt, we love you so so much. You are profoundly missed. We all want you back for just one more day. One more hug. One more kiss. One more laugh. One more joke. One more wrestle with the boys.”

The Ulrich family has set up a GiveSendGo fundraiser in the wake of his death that has raised over $57,000.

“All funds will go directly to the Ulrich boys,” the fundraiser reads.

A commemoration of Ulrich's life is scheduled for Monday, November 20, at 2 p.m. at Journey Church in Bozeman, Mont.