Chiefs fan who died at training camp was ‘brave and caring woman,’ says daughter, 9

Chiefs fan Jessica Tangen died of a heart-related issue and no autopsy will be performed, Mosaic Life Care said in a statement on Friday.

Tangen, 43, of Riverside in Platte County and her 9-year-old daughter, Kyla, were attending a practice session at Chiefs training camp on Sunday when Jessica Tangen was taken away by an ambulance. Tangen died later that day.

Mosaic released a video of Kyla talking about her mother, including her mother’s love of the Chiefs and favorite player, Travis Kelce.

She was remarkably poised for a young girl talking about big emotions.

“She was a brave and caring woman and she worked hard,” Kyla said. “And she always came home with a smile on her face.”

Kyla said her mom wouldn’t miss a broadcast of the New Heights podcast featuring the Kelce brothers, Travis, the Chiefs’ tight end, and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In February, that love of the Chiefs prompted Tangen to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to take Kyla to the Super Bowl victory parade. The two were just in Arrowhead Stadium last month attending a Taylor Swift concert.

Tangen was also a member of North Kansas City High School’s Class of 1998, which celebrates its 25th class reunion soon.

“I’m doing a lot better,” Kyla said in the video Friday. “A lot better. I think that it’s the amount of people wanting to support the family and keeping us in their prayers. It really lifts you up.”

News of her mother’s death touched fans close to home and across the NFL, prompting dozens of messages for the family on social media.

From a Los Angeles Chargers fan: “No one should never come home from a game or training camp. So sorry to hear of the loss. Tragic.”

And from a Denver fan: “From a Broncos fan, my thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid opened a press conference at camp on Wednesday by calling Tangen’s death a “terrible thing” and offering “blessings” to her family.

“The Tangen family, our hearts go out to them for the death of Mom there and to the kids,” Reid said. “It’s a terrible thing that happened. We’ve obviously reached out to them and will stay that way, continue to support them by contact.”

Hundreds of Chiefs fans have poured out sympathy on the Chiefs Chicks Facebook page, a private page for female Chiefs fans with nearly 56,000 members.

“She was a dear friend of mine … my football buddy! Yes!! She LOVED our Chiefs! And so did her 9 year old daughter Kyla,” wrote member Lynn Campbell-Bouchard.

“Please pray for her family and most of all her daughter … that little girl was her world.”

A trust has been established in Kyla’s name. Donations can be sent to:

Kyla R. Tangen Trust, c/o Union State Bank of Horton, 301 E. 15th St., Horton, KS 66439.

Online donations can be made at: givesendgo.com/Krtangentrust.

Tangen’s funeral will be Monday at Newcomer’s White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 N.E. Antioch Road in Gladstone, according to her obituary. Visitation is from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3.

The Star’s Lisa Gutierrez contributed to this report.