(CNN) -- Paul Oliver, a former defensive back for the University of Georgia and the San Diego Chargers, was found dead this week, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot. 
 
 His death marks the latest in a string of suicides among former professional football players. 
 
 "Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul," a statement from the NFL team said. "He was part of our family for five years. At just 29 years old, he still had a lifetime in front of him. Right now all of our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this most difficult time." 
 
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 Oliver leaves behind a wife and two children, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. 
 
 "We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers," Oliver's family said in a statement to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "We request privacy in the wake of this tragic loss." 
 
 Mark Richt, coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, called it "a very sad day." 
 
 "I just want to say it's been rough," he told reporters. "I just want to tell everybody in his family that we're thinking about them and we love them. We'll do whatever we can to help." 
 
 Police found Oliver's body Tuesday night at the bottom of a set of stairs in a home in Marietta, Georgia, Cobb County police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said. A family member had called 911. 
 
 The county medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by handgun and gave police authorization to release the cause. 
 
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 Oliver played for the Chargers from 2007 to 2011, recording 144 tackles in 57 games. 
 
 A former teammate, Eric Weddle, described Oliver as "charismatic, funny but also quiet and reserved," The Union-Tribune reported. "He never said a bad word about anyone. Just a good, genuine guy." 
 
 Oliver's high school coach in Georgia, Bruce Cobleigh, said Oliver was a leader. 
 
 "This is a real tough situation for everybody because this isn't Paul," Cobleigh told CNN's Brooke Baldwin. "This is surprising, shocking. He was really outgoing. He was really well-liked, a leader, hard, hard worker.' 
 
 Cobleigh said he hadn't talked with his former player in recent years as much as when he was in Georgia, but the coach had fielded calls much of Wednesday from former teammates of Oliver who were all surprised by his death. 
 
 The circumstances of his apparent suicide were not immediately clear. 
 
 Suicides of some other former NFL players involved brain injuries. 
 
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 Star NFL linebacker Junior Seau was 43 when he took his own life in May 2012. The National Institutes of Health later found he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a neurodegenerative brain disease that can follow multiple hits to the head. 
 
 A study published in December in the journal Brain looked at brain tissue of 34 professional football players after they died. All but one showed evidence of disease. 
 
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 In April 2012, former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling, 62, committed suicide. An autopsy found signs of CTE. 
 
 In February 2011, former Chicago Bears defensive back Dave Duerson, 50, committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest, rather than his head, so his brain could be researched for CTE. Boston University researchers found the disease in his brain. 
 
 In December 2012, Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs killed his girlfriend before taking his own life. His remains were not tested for CTE, media reports said. 
 
 The NFL launched a crisis support line in July 2012 for players, former players and their families. Called NFL Life Line, it operates independently from the NFL and promises to keep all calls confidential. 
 
 "There is no higher priority for the National Football League than the health and wellness of our players," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to personnel and fans at the time. 
 
 NFL and ex-players reach deal in concussion lawsuit ||||| Former Chargers safety Paul Oliver during a game against the Indianapolis Colts in November 2010. (Photo: Michael Conroy, AP) Story Highlights Authorities say Paul Oliver died Tuesday night in Marietta, Ga., of a self-inflicted gunshot 
 
 Former teammate says Oliver, a married father of two children, was 'happiest guy ever.' 
 
 Oliver starred at Georgia before Chargers drafted him in fourth round of 2007 supplemental draft 
 
 Former San Diego Chargers defensive back Paul Oliver died from a self-inflicted gunshot in Marietta, Ga., on Tuesday night, authorities said, leaving his former teammates and coaches stunned and wondering what had happened to the 29-year-old who last played in the NFL two years ago. 
 
 Oliver played for the Chargers from 2007-11, where he was a teammate of Quentin Jammer, now with the Denver Broncos. 
 
 "He was a good friend of mine. Great guy. Great guy," Jammer told USA TODAY Sports. "I mean, the early reports were that he committed suicide, and he just didn't seem like that type of guy. You never know what somebody is going through, what's going on in somebody's life." 
 
 "I hadn't talked to him in a while. I wish now I could reach out to him. If I'd have known," Jammer said, his voice trailing off. 
 
 Oliver killed himself with a handgun at about 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, said Mike Bowman, public information officer for the Cobb County Police Department, though Bowman said Wednesday he did not know the location of the wound. 
 
 Jammer recalled Oliver as a talented player whom the Chargers converted to safety after Oliver arrived in San Diego in 2007. The Chargers released Oliver in the 2011 offseason, but re-signed him later that year because of injuries to other players. Oliver also spent time with the New Orleans Saints. 
 
 Chargers free safety Eric Weddle, another of Oliver's close friends on the team, said he was "devastated." 
 
 "I thought about it all practice," he said. "Words can't really express how as an ex-teammate — I was with him for five years — you have so many memories and so many thoughts. Football was the last thing I was thinking about out there today. It's unfortunate. You feel for his family and his two kids." 
 
 Weddle said he talked to Oliver about a year ago. "Wish I would have reached out to him more and helped him in some way," he said. 
 
 The Chargers selected Oliver in the fourth round of the 2007 supplemental draft, and he played in 57 games, with 12 starts. He became a free agent in 2012. 
 
 "Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul," the team said in a statement. "He was part of our family for five years. At just 29 years old, he had a lifetime in front of him." 
 
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 Georgia star 
 
 Oliver was a star cornerback for the University of Georgia, where he had seven interceptions, 114 tackles and three sacks during his three seasons in Athens. He turned pro and entered the supplemental draft after he was ruled academically ineligible before the 2007 season. 
 
 Georgia coach Mark Richt described Oliver's death as "heartbreaking" on a conference call Wednesday morning. 
 
 "I was crushed this morning when I heard it, quite frankly," Richt said. "I haven' t been able to keep it off my mind, to be honest with you. We have to find a way to reach out and help any way we can." 
 
 A native of Kennesaw, Ga., and graduate of Harrison High School, Oliver redshirted his freshman year before playing the 2004-06 seasons for the Bulldogs. 
 
 One of Oliver's college highlights came in the 2006 Georgia-Georgia Tech game, when he held receiver Calvin Johnson – now a Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions – to two catches for 13 yards and had an interception in the final minute to seal a 15-12 win for the Bulldogs. 
 
 Oliver's death hits a Chargers franchise still reeling from the 2012 suicide of Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau, who played 20 seasons in the NFL and shot himself in the chest at age 43. A study of Seau's brain revealed he had suffered from a chronic degenerative brain disease. 
 
 Jammer, who played for the Chargers from 200-2012, just shook his head as he was asked about another Chargers' tragedy. 
 
 "I'm still waiting around to see what the truth is. Committing suicide, no one really knows, except maybe his family," Jammer said. 
 
 It is also another tragedy for the Cobb County football community. Kenny McKinley, the former Denver Broncos wide receiver from Mableton, Ga., died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2009 at age 23. 
 
 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that McKinley and Oliver faced each other twice in high school. Their college teams also played twice when McKinley was at South Carolina and Oliver at Georgia. 
 
 'A fun guy' 
 
 The Chargers' Weddle recalled Oliver as the "happiest guy ever. Just a joy to be around. Funny. Charismatic. Worked his tail off. Also quiet, reserved, at the same time. Justa great teammate and great friend. Great person. Never once said something bad about anyone." 
 
 "He was just a fun guy to be around. You could always count on him on the field and off." 
 
 Tight end Antonio Gates also remembered laughing with Oliver. 
 
 "You feel fortunate to be a part of his life the time he was here. I would never expect a guy like that to do certain things or make those type of judgments about life. It makes you appreciate life, makes you appreciate your family and kids. You just never know. Life is so short." 
 
 Oliver is survived by his wife, the former Chelsea Young, and two children. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized. 
 
 Contributing: Gary Mihoces; Forrest Lee in San Diego. ||||| Former Chargers safety Paul Oliver died Tuesday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Georgia home, a Cobb County police spokesman said Wednesday. He was 29. 
 
 A family member reported the suicide about 6:40 p.m. on the 2000 block of Fairport Way in Marietta. His wife, Chelsea Oliver, and two juveniles witnessed the incident, according to a police report. Oliver had two children. 
 
 His family confirmed the passing in a Wednesday statement. 
 
 "We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers," the statement read. "We request privacy in the wake of this tragic loss." 
 
 On Wednesday, news of Oliver's death spread to San Diego. 
 
 The ex-Georgia Bulldog was a 2007 fourth-round supplemental Chargers draft pick who appeared in 57 NFL games, all with San Diego from 2008 to 2011. Eight of his 12 starts came in 2010 when he recorded a career-high 59 tackles and an interception. He finished his career with 124 tackles, one sack and four picks. 
 
 NFL Life Line Current and former NFL players, coaches, other team or league staff members, and their family members can access a free, independent hotline for help dealing with a serious life issue. The NFL Life Line is a confidential 24-hour resource which connects those in crisis to trained medical professionals. It can be accessed via phone at (800) 506-0087 or via online chat at NFLLifeLine.org. 
 
 “Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul," the team said in a statement. "He was part of our family for five years. At just 29 years old, he still had a lifetime in front of him. Right now all of our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this most difficult time." 
 
 Oliver's death was met with shock and sadness among players, many of whom were teammates with him. Some who weren't teammates had still met Oliver, who lived in San Diego for a period of time after his playing career. 
 
 Safety Eric Weddle learned of his death from a former teammate. 
 
 He described Oliver as "charismatic, funny but also quiet and reserved," someone who would slip in a subtle joke and always be smiling. 
 
 "He never said a bad word about anyone. Just a good genuine guy," Weddle said. "From the moment he got here, he was up front. Loved the game. You could always count on him. Every year, it seemed like he was a backup who could play special teams. Then he got into games, and he always played well. You'd never think of something like this happening to a guy like that. It's surreal, really. ... 
 
 "We used to have some side jokes, and some of them still carry on today even though he's not here. Even more so now, we'll think about him every day, just what he brought to us and how he was as a person. ... I wasn't thinking about football much today; that's for sure. It's a sad day."
– The sports world is turning mournful eyes to Georgia, where former San Diego Charger Paul Oliver died Tuesday night from what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 29. The Union-Tribune reports that the incident occurred in his Marietta home in the presence of his wife and two juveniles; the former safety had two kids. CNN adds that police found his body at the foot of a staircase. Oliver played college ball at Georgia before joining the Chargers as a fourth-round pick in the 2007 supplemental draft. He played 57 games, with 12 starts, and was with San Diego until 2011. USA Today notes he became a free agent last year. It shares several tough quotes, including this one, from former teammate Quentin Jammer: "Great guy. Great guy. ... The early reports were that he committed suicide, and he just didn't seem like that type of guy. You never know what somebody is going through, what's going on in somebody's life. I hadn't talked to him in a while. I wish now I could reach out to him. If I'd have known..." (It's not this week's only gloomy football news.)