UNLV football player complained of chest pains before death, report says

UNLV football player Ben Christman complained to the team of chest pains before he died, according to a police report obtained by the Review-Journal on Wednesday.

Metropolitan police officers were dispatched to Christman’s off-campus home on East Gabriel Drive at about 10 a.m. on Feb. 11, the report said.

Upon arrival, an officer made contact with two UNLV football players who said they went to check on the 6-foot-6-inch, 325-pound offensive lineman because he did not show up to practice. The players are described as Black male adults in the report, and their names were redacted for privacy reasons.

One of the players told officers he knew they had arrived at Christman’s residence at exactly 9:55 a.m. because he made a point to check the time.

The two players who went to check on Christman told officers they entered through the back door, which is right across the hallway from Christman’s room, and they saw that his door was cracked with the light off, according to the report.

After knocks on the door went unanswered, the players told police they entered and turned on the light to reveal the 21-year-old Christman lying “face up on his bed motionless with what appeared to be foam coming out of his mouth and his face and hands purple,” the report said.

One of the players told officers he called 911, and a dispatcher gave him instructions to start CPR. It’s noted in the report that Engine 19 of the fire department was present when police officers arrived, and Christman appeared to have been deceased for a “few hours” because of purple coloration on his right arm.

A white male adult, identified as a graduate assistant coach, said he arrived at the home around 10 a.m. and saw the players attempting CPR, the report said.

The coach told officers that Christman suffered chest pains during practice a day earlier, Feb. 10, leading a coach to conduct an electrocardiogram on him at UNLV facilities. The coach sent the scans to the team’s “cardio doctor,” who stated they looked normal, according to the report.

A UNLV athletics spokesman said in a statement that “questions related to the specifics of the police report should be directed to Las Vegas Metro, and to the Clark County Coroner’s office related to cause of death.”

“UNLV Athletics continues to mourn the tragic loss of Ben Christman, and our thoughts remain with his family, loved ones, and teammates,” the statement said. “We are actively offering mental health and related support services to Ben’s teammates and to all of our student-athletes, and we’ll do all we can to support them during this difficult period.”

No suspicious items

Later on Feb. 10, a white male player who lived at the home said he greeted Christman there at around 3 p.m., didn’t see him again and started calling him when he missed practice the next morning.

The home is described in the report as a single-family, one-story residence with four bedrooms.

Police said an investigation yielded “nothing pertinent,” with no weapons, narcotics or any other suspicious items found in the residence.

Christman died the day before his 22nd birthday. His obituary in the Akron Beacon Journal said he “passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 11, 2025, from natural causes.”

The cause of death has not been released by the coroner’s office.

‘Big Ben’

UNLV defensive lineman Ryan Keeler died in February 2023. The 20-year-old, who had just completed his redshirt freshman season, was found unresponsive in his studio apartment in Las Vegas. The coroner’s office determined that Keeler’s death was caused by a natural cardiac issue.

A memorial service will be held for Christman on Friday in his hometown, Akron, Ohio.

The family is asking for donations to The Ben Christman Memorial Scholarship Fund at BenChristman.givesmart.com.

“Ben’s life was one of boundless energy, passion, and a deep love of sport and its core principles,” his obituary said. “A standout player on the field, he was known for his strength, determination, and larger-than-life presence, earning him the affectionate nickname ‘Big Ben.’

“He was a force on and off the field, always ready with a smile and a helping hand, and his love for the sport, particularly football, fueled his dreams of playing at the highest level.”

Christman was preparing for his first season at UNLV after transferring from Kentucky. He also played previously at Ohio State.

Christman is survived by his parents and two younger brothers, along with many other extended family members.

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.