| Philip Lutzenkirchen | |
| Number: | 43 |
| Position: | Tight end |
| Birth Date: | 1 June 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Winfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Place: | LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 3 |
| Weight Lbs: | 258 |
| High School: | Lassiter (Marietta, Georgia) |
| College: | Auburn (2009–2012) |
| Undraftedyear: | 2013 |
| Pastteams: | |
Philip Lutzenkirchen (June 1, 1991 – June 29, 2014) was an American football tight end, who played at Auburn University, finishing his career as the school's all-time leading receiver in touchdowns among tight ends.
Lutzenkirchen was a standout tight end at Auburn, starting for the 2010 championship team as a sophomore. His senior season in 2012 ended prematurely due to a hip injury. Lutzenkirchen ended his career with 59 receptions for 628 yards, and 14 touchdowns, the most in school history by a tight end.[1] [2]
| Year | Team | GP | Receiving | Fumbles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Fum | Lost | ||||
| Auburn | 13 | 5 | 66 | 13.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Auburn | 13 | 15 | 185 | 12.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | 24 | 238 | 9.9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Auburn | 6 | 15 | 139 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | 44 | 59 | 628 | 10.6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | ||
Philip Lutzenkirchen and baseball player Joseph Ian Davis, the driver of the vehicle, were involved in a single-vehicle accident that resulted in their deaths on June 29, 2014, around 3 a.m. They both died at the scene while the two other passengers were injured. Lutzenkirchen, who was in the back seat, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.377 while Davis registered a 0.17 (the legal limit in Georgia is 0.08) which made them both legally drunk. Lutzenkirchen was ejected as a result of not wearing a seat belt.[3]
In the aftermath of Lutzenkirchen's death, his family set up a foundation, the Lutzie 43 Foundation.[4] The Foundation offers a "43 Lessons to Legacy" character-building curriculum. Students who complete the program are eligible to apply for a scholarship.