SmashMouth

Todd Fruge, who developed a friendship with New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram after catching him in his Lambeau Leap celebration last season in Green Bay, died Thursday (June 28) after battling colon cancer for more than three years. He was 48.

At last season's meeting between the Saints and the Green Bay Packers, Fruge and a friend scored some front-row seats in the south end zone. Ingram found them after a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and leapt into their arms, mimicking the Packers' trademark celebration.

After the game, Ingram learned Fruge's story -- that he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015 and that even after extensive chemotherapy, the cancer had spread to his lungs and liver. Ingram invited Fruge and his family to a Saints practice, where they talked about the play.



Fruge worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the St. Michael football team in Baton Rouge.