St. Louis BattleHawks coach Ben Siegfried was found dead on Thursday, March 16, 2023, the XFL announced.
The St. Louis BattleHawks released a statement Thursday that reads:
“His contagious smile in the dressing room and his passion for his job will be sorely missed by all the staff and players who had the opportunity to work alongside him. Our prayers are with his family and friends. At this time, Ben’s cause of death Siegfried has yet to be revealed. However, it was announced via FOX 2 St. Louis that Siegfried died at the team hotel.”
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Who was Ben Siegfried?
Ben Siegfried was a decent college football player who transitioned to athletic trainer in the XFL.
Siegfried attended Lebanon Valley University in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2021 after graduating from the Conrad School of Science. He racked up 17 tackles and a half sack in ten games as a senior. He was selected for the MAC Academic Honor Roll due to his stellar performances.
After his time at the university, he was appointed track coach for the St. Louis Battle Falcons and the DC Defenders of the XFL, a league owned by legendary movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
By all accounts, Ben Siegfried was an impeccable presence in the locker room and came across as a true worker. There have been many tributes since his death was announced. We hope his family finds comfort during this difficult time.
How long have the St. Louis BattleHawks been part of the XFL?
The St. Louis BattleHawks are one of the founding members of the XFL. They were founded in 2020 by being part of the eight locations that would join the new XFL, in addition to Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, DC, Tampa Bay and Dallas. The team announced its first player: former Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.
The BattleHawks won their first game on February 8, 2020, setting the pace in the dallas renegades with a score of 15-9. On March 12, 2020, the league announced that the remainder of the 2020 XFL season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The franchise finished with a 3-2 record. On April 10, 2020, the XFL immediately suspended operations and all employees, players, and staff were terminated.
They have been solid in the 2023 XFL season, putting a 3-1 to start the season. They’re being led by the stellar quarterback play of AJ McCarron, a former Alabama Crimson Tide standout. The team will be looking forward to the postseason as they are poised to finish the regular season in the top two in the XFL North Division.
