Former Bears RB Cedric Benson dies in overnight motorcycle accident

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Former Bears fourth-overall pick Cedric Benson passed away Saturday night at the age of 36.

His friends and family have confirmed to various reporters that the former running back was involved in a motorcycle accident near Austin, Texas.

Benson spent his first three seasons in Chicago after a prolific college career at the University of Texas.

He unseated Bears veteran Thomas Jones following the team’s trip to the Super Bowl in 2006, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury 11 games into his only season as the full-time starter.

Chicago released him in the 2008 offseason after a pair of arrests, but he got his career back on track for four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Benson finished his career with the Green Bay Packers in 2012, playing five games before a Lisfranc injury ended his season and ultimately his career.

Some of Benson’s former Bears teammates took to social media to react to the tragedy.

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