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Former Cowboys Player Suffers Medical Emergency At 38

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 5:07 PM ET

A former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman is recovering from major heart surgery.

Henry Melton played for the Cowboys in 2014 after five seasons with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the fourth round out of the University of Texas in 2009. He later closed out his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.

Longtime Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. shared heartbreaking news about Melton on X/Twitter Wednesday. Not only is the 38-year-old dealing with his ongoing heart issue, but he also just lost his mother.

"Please put former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Henry Melton your prayers who is still recovering from a near fatal heart issue that required major surgery," Hill tweeted. "He know has to deal with the loss of his mother Cinithia Melton, who died earlier this week. Melton played football at Grapevine and at the University of Texas before being drafted by the Chicago Bears."

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 29: A Dallas Cowboys helmet is pictured during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 29, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)Getty Images.

Melton appeared in all 16 games for the Cowboys in 2014, making three starts. He contributed 15 tackles and five sacks to a Dallas team that won the NFC East and reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

In his final NFL season, Melton logged 30 tackles and two sacks in 16 games for the Buccaneers in 2015. From 2009-13, he appeared in 48 games for the Bears, making 32 starts.

Melton, who made his only Pro Bowl appearance in 2012, finished his Chicago tenure with 89 tackles, 15.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

According to the GoFundMe that was established for Melton back in February, the Texas alum suffered an aortic dissection.

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 24: A general view of the field during the game between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 24, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

"Recently, Henry unexpectedly couldn't feel his legs, and fortunately, his daughter Pey was with him and quickly called 911," the GoFundMe description reads. "He was rushed to Northwestern, where doctors discovered he was suffering from an aortic dissection—his large blood vessels branching off his heart had torn. He was immediately rushed into open heart surgery with a 50/50 chance of survival.

"After three intense weeks in the ICU, Henry is now on the road to recovery and slowly getting back on his feet however, this will be a lifelong condition requiring continued medical care."

Our thoughts and prayers are with Melton and his family.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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