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Marion Barber III cause of death REVEALED: Former Dallas Cowboys running back, 38, found dead in his apartment

The autopsy reports one of the bathtub faucets in Barber's apartment was running when officers arrived and the unit's thermostat was set to 91 degrees

Update: The Collin County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled that former Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber III died of a heat stroke. The autopsy reports one of the bathtub faucets in Barber's apartment was running when officers arrived, and the unit's thermostat was set to 91 degrees with the heat set to "on."

Exercise equipment was also found in his unit. "Mr. Barber was known to exercise in sauna-like conditions," the coroner wrote in his report.

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Marion Barber III, a former NFL running back with the Dallas Cowboys who made the Pro Bowl in 2007, was found dead by authorities in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday, June 1. He was 38 years old at the time. His death was first confirmed by his team, but no cause of death for the former University of Minnesota standout, who would have been 39 next week, was given.

Officials conducted a welfare check on Barber's apartment after a water leak was reported, and officers discovered his death after forcing their way inside. According to the Guardian, the player had issues with mental health after his career. According to police spokesperson Joshua Lovell, “Frisco Police responded to a welfare concern at an apartment believed to be leased by Marion Barber. Frisco Police along with the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating an unattended death at the location.” 

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Earlier, the Cowboys declared in an official statement, “We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Marion Barber III. Marion was an old-school, hard-nosed football player who ran with the will to win every down. He had a passion for the game and a love for his coaches and teammates. Our hearts go out to Marion’s family and friends during this difficult time.” 

Many on social media paid tribute to the star as one person wrote, “Rip you were goated on madden 09 I will never forget you Marion Barber top 10 running back all time” “This is so tragic. Probably had the best 1 yard run in NFL history. RIP,” another added. “Not even a Dallas fan but, Marion "The Barbarian" was a goated nickname. one of my favorite RBs back in my early teen years of watching the NFL. he was beast mode before beast mode came along,” another tweet remarked. 

Barber was born on June 10, 1983, in Plymouth, Minnesota, to Marion Barber, a former New York Jets running back. In 2003-04, he had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, combining for 28 touchdowns. Both years, the Big 10 squad won bowl games. Meanwhile, Marion Barber III was not married. Barber gained the nickname 'Marion the Barbarian' for his rough-and-tumble running style. He concluded his career with 59 touchdowns and 4,780 running yards, and he retired following the 2011 season with the Chicago Bears.

According to NY Post, in 2007, his third year in the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns while excelling in red-zone carries, which made him a fantasy football favorite. His 47 rushing touchdowns rank fourth among all running backs on the team's all-time list.

Earlier, Barber was detained by police and subjected to a psychiatric assessment following an incident in 2014. He was also arrested in 2019 and charged with two charges of criminal mischief after causing damage to two cars while on the run. He is survived by his father and brothers Dominique, a former NFL safety, and Thomas, a former University of Minnesota football player.