Grandfather of Iowa LB Jack Campbell dies in accident before Music City Bowl

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The grandfather of University of Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell was killed Friday night after he was hit by a hotel passenger van on Friday night, authorities said.

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William Smith Jr., 76, of Waterloo, Iowa, was in Tennessee to watch his grandson play in Saturday’s Music City Bowl at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, The Tennesseean reported. Smith was hit by the van after he stepped onto the road shortly after 10 p.m., according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

A family member had allegedly told Smith not to step onto the road but he apparently did not hear the warning, police said. Smith was pronounced dead after being taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center, ESPN reported.

Campbell’s parents did not tell the senior about his grandfather’s death until Saturday’s game had ended, KCCI-TV reported. Smith was the father of Campbell’s stepmother.

“His parents made the decision to wait to share this devastating news so that Jack would have one last time to play with his Iowa Hawkeye teammates,” Iowa athletic officials said in a statement.

Campbell was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and the 2022 winner of the Butkus Award, given annually to the best linebacker in college football, according to The Tennessean. On Saturday Campbell had a team-high 10 tackles and a sack in the Hawkeyes’ 21-0 victory against the University of Kentucky, ESPN reported.

“Our hearts are with Jack and his entire family as they grieve the tragic death of their grandfather and father, William Smith, Jr.,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “We know Mr. Smith was a strong influence on his grandson and a faithful Hawkeye football supporter. All of us -- players, coaches and staff members -- will keep the Campbell family in our thoughts and prayers during this profoundly difficult time.”

Eight people were in the van at the time, including the driver, The Tennessean reported. They were not injured, according to the newspaper.

Police spokesperson Don Aaron said his department did not anticipate filing charges against the driver, who was driving for Holiday Inn at the time of the accident.

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