Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner Doug Lebda was killed Sunday in an ATV accident on his family’s farm in North Carolina. He was 55 years old.
Lebda was the founder and CEO of LendingTree, an online loan marketplace and financial services company. LendingTree announced on Monday the passing of Lebda.
Lebda had been a minority owner with the Steelers since 2019, buying a 5 percent stock from David Tepper, who is now the owner of the Carolina Panthers. A native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and graduate of Bucknell University, Lebda grew up as a Steelers fan.
“It’s a good investment,” Lebda said to the Charlotte Observer in 2019. “But it’s also an amazing opportunity to be a part of what I think is one of the best organizations of anything in the world.’’
Lebda is survived by his wife, Megan, and three daughters — Rachel, Abby and Sophia — LendingTree’s spokesperson told The Associated Press.
In a statement, Megan Lebda said her husband “was an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met.”
“Our hearts are broken, but we are also deeply grateful for the love and support that has poured in from across the world,” she said — adding that his legacy will continue both at LendingTree and in “the lives he touched.”
The board has appointed LendingTree’s Chief Operating Officer and President, Scott Peyree, to succeed Lebda, effective immediately.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Doug. Doug was a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape, touching the lives of millions of consumers,” the board of directors said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Minority Owner Dies in ATV Accident
