Lawrence Phillips: Former NFL star found dead in prison cell in suspected suicide

Phillips was accused of killing another inmate

Lawrence Phillips (L) walks off the practice field with former coach Kippy Brown (Getty Images )

A former NFL player has been found dead inside a California prison cell in what prison officials believe to be a suicide.

Lawrence Phillips was serving a 31-year sentence at Kern Valley State prison for choking his girlfriend and driving his car into a group of teenagers. He had been placed in a separate cell after being accused of killing another inmate and a judge had ruled there was enough evidence that he should stand trial for the death, according to the Associated Press. He was found dead in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Philip had a promising sporting career ahead of him during his time at the University of Nebraska, where he was one of the top players. He went on to play for the St Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, but his career ended in 2000 and he had various run-ins with the law.

Tom Osborne, his former coach at Nebraska, was “stunned“ by news of his death. ”He was an intelligent person and had some good qualities,” he told AP. “Yet he had some anger issues and couldn't overcome the demons in his life."