Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver is mourning the death of his 2-year-old son, also named Ed, who drowned in a residential swimming pool at the family's Houston-area home on June 28. The tragedy remained private for nearly two months before it surfaced publicly on Friday, prompting an outpouring of grief from the organization — and sharp criticism from teammates over how the news came out.
Oliver, 28, has asked for privacy and prayers as he grieves with his longtime partner, Dymond Gladney, and their daughter, Eva. The Bills publicly expressed their condolences Saturday, and quarterback Josh Allen spoke at length in Cleveland about a loss that has shaken the entire locker room.
A Toddler's Drowning and a Family's Private Grief
According to multiple reports, the toddler — who was just shy of his second birthday — was found unresponsive in the pool at Oliver's home in Harris County, Texas. TMZ reported that when first responders arrived, they were told the child's parents had found him unresponsive in the pool. He was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m.
The Associated Press, citing a person briefed on the matter, reported that the boy was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a residential pool in Harris County on June 28. The Harris County Sheriff's Department posted a note on Facebook that evening about the drowning of a toddler in a neighborhood community north of Houston, without providing names or ages.
"This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the toddler's family during this incredibly difficult time. The investigation is ongoing," the post read. A sheriff's official told the AP on Saturday that a report was not immediately available.
Timeline: From a June Tragedy to a Weekend of Grief
The sequence of events that led to this weekend's public revelation stretched across nearly two months:
- June 28: Oliver's son drowns in a pool at the family's Harris County, Texas, home and is pronounced dead that evening.
- July: Oliver reports to Bills training camp on time, keeping the tragedy private.
- Last weekend: Oliver appears with the starters in the Bills' preseason-opening 29-14 win over Carolina.
- This week: Oliver misses practice — listed by the team with an undisclosed injury — and does not travel to Cleveland.
- Friday, Aug. 21: Social media personality Tony Farmer posts about the death, revealing Oliver is not injured but dealing with a family tragedy.
- Saturday, Aug. 22: The Bills release a statement from GM Brandon Beane; Allen addresses reporters; Buffalo beats Cleveland 31-7 in the preseason.
Josh Allen: 'It Makes Me Very Sad and Angry'
Allen, a 30-year-old who recently welcomed his first child with actress Hailee Steinfeld, did not hide his frustration over how the news of his teammate's loss became public. Speaking to reporters in Cleveland, he said he was grateful to those who had known about the drowning and stayed quiet.
"It's very sad in how it came out. It makes me very sad and angry at the same time," Allen said, according to multiple reports.
"I can't imagine what he's going through, but the way that he's dealt with it has been unbelievable," Allen added. "There's nothing that you can say to make the situation any better except being there for Ed in whatever way he needs."
Allen described how the team has handled the situation privately: "What we've been doing is giving him his space and time, but at the same time being around him, loving up on him, but not trying to do anything to reopen that. Just guys being around him and putting their hand on him and not having to say too much. But I got your back."
He reiterated his frustration with the person who first reported the news: "It's very unfortunate how it came about. I appreciate those that knew and didn't want to bring it up. It's no one's place to really let that out there except him and his family's when the time came for it, but we roll now and be there for him as teammates."
Why the Leak Sparked Outrage Around the NFL
The public disclosure began Friday when Tony Farmer, a self-described "sleuth" and creator with about 24,000 followers on X, posted about the death. Neither Oliver nor the Bills had released the news, and the team had listed Oliver with an undisclosed injury. Farmer revealed that Oliver was not injured but was instead dealing with the tragic loss of his son.
The leak drew swift backlash from across the NFL world, with players, reporters, and fans criticizing the decision to make the family's grief public before they were ready. Tim Graham, a columnist for The Athletic, noted that Allen opened his news conference by thanking those who had known about the drowning and chosen not to report it.
The episode has also reignited a broader conversation about athletes' right to privacy during personal tragedies. Several NFL reporters observed that the Bills and Oliver had deliberately kept the loss quiet for months, allowing the family to grieve out of the spotlight — a boundary that was crossed when the news was shared without the family's consent.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane released a statement Saturday: "On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son. It's an unthinkable tragedy for any parent. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss."
Oliver's Family and His Growth as a Father
Oliver shares a daughter, Eva, with his longtime partner, Dymond Gladney. In September 2025, Oliver spoke openly about how becoming a parent had changed him as a player and a leader.
"I really attest a lot of my maturity and just my growth to my kids," Oliver told reporters. "Having kids and having to be the head of a household and a leader and trying to guide them... that's kind of then trickled over into football."
He added that fatherhood made him "more patient and more observant," saying his children had "a weird way of making you grow up real fast."
Oliver, a first-round pick out of Houston in the 2019 NFL Draft, signed a four-year, $86 million contract extension with Buffalo in June 2023 and is entering his eighth season with the team.
Where Things Stand Now
Oliver was not with the team in Cleveland for Saturday's 31-7 preseason win over the Browns. The Bills have not announced a timeline for his return, and there has been no word on when the team expects him back on the field.
The Harris County Sheriff's Department has said its investigation into the drowning remains ongoing, though no additional details have been released.
Key Takeaways
- Ed Oliver's 2-year-old son, Ed, drowned in a pool at the family's Houston-area home on June 28.
- The family kept the tragedy private for nearly two months before it leaked on social media Friday.
- Josh Allen said the way the news became public made him "very sad and angry."
- Bills GM Brandon Beane called the loss "an unthinkable tragedy for any parent."
- Oliver, 28, is entering his eighth NFL season and signed an $86 million extension in 2023.
