SANTA CLARA -- Former teammates of Konrad Reuland reacted Tuesday inside the 49ers locker room with shock and sadness over his death. He was 29.
Reuland suffered a brain aneurysm Nov. 28 and had surgery the next day. Reuland died on Monday.
Reuland, who finished his college career at Stanford, signed with the 49ers in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He was among the 49ers' final cuts but was signed to the practice squad.
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A communications major, Reuland originally attended Notre Dame out of Mission Viejo High School. The New York Jets acquired Reuland and he spent two seasons in New York, catching 12 passes for 90 yards. He played with the Baltimore Ravens last year and went to camp with the Indianapolis Colts this summer.
“That first year (2011) I spent quite a bit of time with him and knew him pretty well,” 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. “(I) had a couple of conversations with him since he left.
“I heard the news about him this morning. It’s just one of those tragedies that you don’t see coming and you hope never happens to anybody. He was always such a great person. Very kind-hearted. It’s painful, and I send my best wishes to his family.”
Linebacker Shayne Skov was teammates and friends with Reuland and his younger brother, Warren, who also played football at Stanford.
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“It’s definitely difficult,” Skov said. “He was good-natured. He always had a positive attitude. He loved to debate and argue, but it was always in good fun and jest.”
Nick Bellore, who signed with the 49ers last year after beginning his career with the Jets, said he grew close to Reuland during their two seasons as teammates.
“It’s just terrible,” Bellore said. “You feel for his family. I knew them. What a great guy he was. It’s just really rough. I was in New York with him for two or three years and stayed in touch with him. It’s one of those freak things you can’t explain.
“He was such a smart guy and caring teammate and friend. He’d do anything for you. He was just someone you could always rely on. Great sense of humor. You don’t always keep in touch with a lot of guys once you move on from teams, but he was one of those guys you kept in touch with and checked up on. He was just an overall good dude."
Reuland was born in Ohio, but spent two years living in a small village outside of Dusseldorf, Germany, between eighth- and ninth-grade school years.
"He was fluent in German and really sharp," Bellore said. "He lived abroad growing up for a while. That was interesting to hear his stories about that. He was just an overall good dude. It’s super-sad."