SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Tragedy has struck the family of 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, hours before Saturday's final regular-season home game.
Beathard's younger brother, Clayton, died after being stabbed in the side during a fight outside a Nashville bar early Saturday, according to a news release issued by police. He was 22. The team said C.J. would miss the game against the Los Angeles Rams to be with his family.
Another victim, Paul Trapeni III, 21, also died from stab wounds, police said.
Authorities say the stabbings stemmed from an argument over a woman inside the Dogwood bar that spilled outside. Multiple people were involved in the fight. Beathard and Trapeni were pronounced dead after being transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A third stabbing victim, who was identified as a 21-year-old male, was treated and released, police in Tennessee said.
Clayton Beathard played football as a quarterback at Long Island University, where he was in his junior year as a sports management major.
The team issued a statement before Saturday's game at Levi's Stadium expressing its condolences.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to C.J. and the entire Beathard family as they cope with the unthinkable loss of a loved one," the team said in prepared remarks.
Team owner Jed York also took to social media, saying "Praying for CJ and the entire (Beathard) family. My heart goes out to you."
C.J. Beathard, 26, is the 49ers' third-string quarterback. He entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick in 2017 after a successful college career at Iowa.
C.J. and Clayton's father, Casey Beathard, is a well-known country music songwriter. They are also the grandsons of NFL Hall of Fame general manager Bobby Beathard. Another brother, Tucker, is a country singer as well.
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