Clemson Star AJ Terrell’s Aunt Tragically Killed In Sudden Tragedy

The Atlanta Falcons’ secondary lost more than a teammate this week — it lost family. League sources confirm that the aunt of cornerbacks AJ Terrell and Avieon Terrell was tragically killed, a gut-punch that has rippled through the locker room and across the organization. Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) was among the first to relay the news Wednesday, and those close to the situation say the family has requested privacy as they process the sudden loss.

AJ Terrell, the Falcons’ longtime No. 1 corner and a pillar of the defense since coming out of Clemson in 2020, has already informed coaches he’ll step away from team activities indefinitely. His younger brother, Avieon, was drafted by Atlanta in the sixth round last year and has been battling for a rotational role in Raheem Morris’s scheme. The front office has been quietly working with player engagement staff to arrange travel and support — standard protocol in these moments, but handled with extra care given the brothers’ dual presence on the roster.

Details remain scarce. Law enforcement has not released the circumstances of the incident, and the team has declined to comment beyond a brief statement expressing condolences. What’s clear is that this isn’t just a personal tragedy for the Terrell family — it’s a blow to a Falcons defense that leans heavily on AJ’s veteran leadership and Avieon’s developmental upside. Both were expected to report for next week’s OTA sessions, though that timeline is now in question.

What happens next depends entirely on the family’s grieving process. The Falcons will not pressure either player for a return date, and league sources indicate the organization has already told both they can take all the time they need. A team-issued grief counselor has been made available, and several veteran teammates have privately reached out. The funeral arrangements are pending, and those close to the situation say the brothers are leaning on each other and a tight-knit support system.

For now, the depth chart is secondary. Atlanta’s front office will have to monitor the situation day by day, knowing that the emotional toll of losing a loved one doesn’t follow a schedule. The team’s next public activity — a mandatory minicamp in mid-June — might come and go without either Terrell brother in attendance. And no one in that building is holding it against them.

Source: https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/2052842624462061742