The Story Of Tommy Lazzaro Is One That Brings Together Leadership, Service, Athletic Talent, And Deep Personal Commitment. Known First As A Standout Quarterback For The Central Michigan University Football Program And Later As A Dedicated U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier, Tommy Lazzaro Lived A Life Defined By Discipline And Purpose. His Death In December 2024 Following A Hunting Accident At Eglin Air Force Base Shocked Both The Military And College Football Communities. At Just 27 Years Old, He Had Already Built A Legacy That Many Spend A Lifetime Trying To Achieve. This Article Looks Closely At The Life, Career, And Lasting Impact Of Tommy Lazzaro In A Way That Honors His Journey And Explains Why His Story Still Resonates In 2025.
Quick Bio Information
Full Name: Thomas Lazzaro
Known As: Tommy Lazzaro
Age At Death: 27
Date Of Death: December 22, 2024
Place Of Death: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Cause Of Death: Hunting Accident
Military Rank: Sergeant
Military Unit: 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne
College: Central Michigan University
Degree: Bachelor’s In Business
Position In Football: Quarterback
College Team: Central Michigan Chippewas
High School: Pine Creek High School, Colorado
High School Titles: Colorado State Champion 2013 And 2014
Family Military Background: Father And Grandfather Served In The Army
Survived By: Parents, Sister, Fiancée
Burial: Full Military Honors
Community Impact: Remembered For Leadership And Service
Early Life And Foundation Of Leadership
Tommy Lazzaro Grew Up In A Family That Valued Hard Work, Responsibility, And Service. From A Young Age, He Showed A Natural Ability To Lead. Friends And Coaches Often Described Him As Calm Under Pressure And Deeply Committed To Team Success. These Traits Became Clear During His Years At Pine Creek High School In Colorado, Where He Helped Lead His Team To Back-To-Back State Championships In 2013 And 2014. Winning A Colorado State Championship Twice Is Not A Small Achievement, And It Established Tommy Lazzaro As One Of The Most Respected High School Quarterbacks In The State.
High School Football Success And Character
During His High School Career, Tommy Lazzaro Was Not Only Known For His Arm Strength And Athletic Ability But Also For His Football Intelligence. Coaches Trusted Him To Read Defenses And Make Smart Decisions. Teammates Followed Him Because He Led By Example. Those Championship Seasons Were Built On Teamwork, But Many Credited Lazzaro’s Steady Leadership As The Difference. His Performance Earned Him Recognition And Helped Open The Door To Playing At The College Level
Tommy Lazzaro Continued His Football Journey At Central Michigan University, Where He Played Quarterback For The Central Michigan Chippewas. Competing At The NCAA Division I Level Demands Mental Toughness And Physical Endurance, And Lazzaro Proved He Belonged. Over Four Seasons With The Chippewas, He Earned Playing Time And Eventually Became A Starting Quarterback. He Balanced His Athletic Responsibilities With Academic Work, Earning A Bachelor’s Degree In Business.
One Of His Notable Appearances Came Against Michigan State At Spartan Stadium In 2018, Where He Demonstrated Poise Against A Powerhouse Opponent. His Time At CMU Was Not Just About Statistics. Former Head Coach Jim McElwain Spoke Highly Of Him, Calling Him A Leader Who Helped Shape The Program’s Culture. Teammates Remembered Him As Someone Who Pushed Others To Improve While Remaining Supportive And Respectful.
Leadership Beyond The Football Field
Leadership Became A Defining Theme Of Tommy Lazzaro’s Life. Whether In The Locker Room Or On The Practice Field, He Took Responsibility Seriously. Coaches Often Spoke About His Preparation And Attention To Detail. That Same Mindset Would Later Carry Over Into His Military Career. For Lazzaro, Leadership Was Not About Spotlight Moments. It Was About Consistency, Accountability, And Setting A Standard Others Could Follow.
A Family Legacy Of Military Service
Football Was Important, But Service To Country Was Deeply Rooted In Tommy Lazzaro’s Family. Both His Father And Grandfather Served In The Army. That Tradition Of Military Service Shaped His Values From An Early Age. After Graduating From Central Michigan University, He Made The Decision To Follow In Their Footsteps. It Was Not A Spur-Of-The-Moment Choice. It Reflected A Longstanding Commitment To Duty And Responsibility.
Tommy Lazzaro Entered The U.S. Army And Earned A Contract To Go Directly Into Special Forces, One Of The Most Selective And Demanding Paths In The Military. He Served As A Sergeant In The 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne, Based At Eglin Air Force Base In Florida. Becoming A Special Forces Soldier Requires Exceptional Physical Conditioning, Tactical Skill, And Mental Strength. The Training Process Is Rigorous And Designed To Identify Only Those Capable Of Handling The Most Complex Missions.
Lazzaro Successfully Completed That Journey, A Testament To His Determination And Discipline. Within The 7th Special Forces Group, He Played An Active Role In Training Exercises And Operational Preparation.
Military Achievements And Contributions
During His Service, Tommy Lazzaro Participated In More Than 32 Live-Fire Exercises. These Exercises Simulate Real Combat Conditions And Require Precision And Team Coordination. He Also Took Part In Ten Joint Training Missions With Ecuadorian Commandos And Tier One Police Personnel. International Cooperation Exercises Like These Strengthen Alliances And Improve Tactical Readiness.
In Addition, Lazzaro Helped Organize And Carry Out Three Major Training Concepts Across The United States. According To Military Tributes, He Was Seen As Reliable, Focused, And Dedicated To His Team. His Commanding Officer, Colonel Patrick Nelson, Spoke Publicly About His Dedication, Courage, And Commitment To Safeguarding Freedoms.
The Tragic Hunting Accident
On December 22, 2024, Tommy Lazzaro Was At A Hunting Location On Eglin Air Force Base In Walton County, Florida. Reports Indicate He Had Gone To The Area To Help A Fellow Soldier Who Was Experiencing Car Trouble. During The Outing, A Hunter’s Stray Round Struck Him. Despite Immediate Attention, He Died From His Injuries. He Was 27 Years Old.
The News Spread Quickly Through Both The Military Community And Central Michigan University. The Incident Was Ruled A Hunting Accident, And Authorities Conducted An Investigation To Understand The Circumstances. The Loss Of A Young Special Forces Sergeant And Former College Quarterback Was Deeply Felt.
Community And Military Tributes
Tributes From The 7th Special Forces Group Emphasized His Professional Excellence And Personal Character. Colonel Patrick Nelson Stated That The Unit Would Never Forget His Dedication And Courage. At Central Michigan University, Coaches And Former Teammates Shared Memories Of His Leadership And Impact On The Program.
These Tributes Reflect A Common Theme. Whether On The Football Field Or In Military Uniform, Tommy Lazzaro Inspired Trust And Respect. Those Who Knew Him Described Him As Someone Who Gave His Best In Every Situation.
Personal Life And Loved Ones
Beyond Football And Military Service, Tommy Lazzaro Was A Son, Brother, And Fiancé. He Is Survived By His Parents, Thomas A. Lazzaro III And Lisa A. Lazzaro, His Sister Lexie Lazzaro, And His Fiancée Kaley Lynch. A Celebration Of Life Was Held In Fort Walton Beach, Florida, And He Was Buried With Full Military Honors. The Ceremony Reflected Both His Service To Country And His Impact On Family And Friends.
The Lasting Legacy Of Tommy Lazzaro
The Life Of Tommy Lazzaro Represents A Rare Combination Of Athletic Excellence And Military Dedication. Many Athletes Transition Into Careers Outside Sports, But Few Enter Elite Military Service. His Story Shows That Leadership Skills Developed In Sports Can Translate Into Real-World Impact. His Commitment To Teamwork, Preparation, And Accountability Carried Through Every Stage Of His Life.
As Of 2025, His Story Continues To Be Shared In Both Sports And Military Circles As An Example Of Character And Service. His Legacy Is Not Measured Only In Games Played Or Training Missions Completed. It Is Measured In The People He Influenced And The Standards He Set.
Final Thoughts
Remembering Tommy Lazzaro Means Looking At A Life That Combined Passion, Discipline, And Service. From Winning High School Championships To Leading At Central Michigan University, And From Completing Special Forces Training To Serving With Honor In The 7th Special Forces Group, He Consistently Stepped Forward When Responsibility Called. His Death Was A Tragic Loss, But His Life Offers A Powerful Reminder Of What Dedication Looks Like In Action. In Sports And In Service, Tommy Lazzaro Lived With Purpose.
FAQs About Tommy Lazzaro
Who Was Tommy Lazzaro?
Tommy Lazzaro Was A U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant And Former Quarterback For Central Michigan University. He Was Known For His Leadership Both On The Football Field And In The Military.
How Did Tommy Lazzaro Die?
Tommy Lazzaro Died On December 22, 2024, After Being Struck By A Stray Round During A Hunting Accident At Eglin Air Force Base In Florida.
How Old Was Tommy Lazzaro When He Passed Away?
He Was 27 Years Old At The Time Of His Death.
Where Did Tommy Lazzaro Play College Football?
He Played Quarterback For The Central Michigan Chippewas At Central Michigan University.
What Military Unit Did Tommy Lazzaro Serve In?
He Served As A Sergeant In The 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne, Based At Eglin Air Force Base.
What Degree Did Tommy Lazzaro Earn?
He Earned A Bachelor’s Degree In Business From Central Michigan University.
Why Is Tommy Lazzaro Remembered Today?
He Is Remembered For His Leadership, Athletic Talent, Military Service, And Commitment To Family And Country. His Life Reflects Dedication In Every Role He Took On.
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