Matt Ulrich's widow Alison pays emotional tribute at late husband's funeral after former Colts star'

Matt Ulrich's widow Alison paid a heartbreaking tribute to her 'best friend' at the former Indianapolis Colts star's funeral on Monday.

Ulrich died at the of 41 earlier this month, with a cause of death not yet announced. He has left behind his wife, Alison, and their four sons. 

The offensive guard won the Super Bowl during his one-year spell with Indianapolis, helping the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in the 2007 showpiece. 

At a church in Bozeman, Montana, Ulrich's family and friends held a memorial service on Monday afternoon as they celebrated his life.

'Matt was so much to so many,' Alison said while fighting back the tears. 'He filled many of our buckets, but now he's leaving many of us with just a huge, huge hole in our hearts.

Matt Ulrich's widow Alison paid a heartbreaking tribute to her 'best friend' at his funeral

The news was first revealed by Jim Irsay, his former boss and owner of the Indianapolis Colts

Alison said she will miss Matt 'forever' and admitted it felt 'impossible' to cope without him

She continued: 'Matt was my best friend. He was the one who could take all my pain away, just the touch of his hand, his hug or laying my head down on his chest. So right now it seems impossible to get through this ache in my heart without him.

'He made me laugh until I cried and he could make me raging mad. He made me stronger, he made me better. He loved me well.

'Matthew, I'll miss your jokes, I'll miss your cooking. I will miss your kiss on my head. I will miss all the things we had still planned to do in this life and all the life you had left to give.

'I will miss growing old with you, I will miss seeing you love our babies. I'll miss you forever Matty. You will forever hold a chunk of my heart and soul.'

Alison also dedicated part of her speech to each of their four sons, insisting Matt always considered them his 'greatest accomplishments' in life.

Their eldest son also read a poem to bid farewell to his dad at the service. 

Alison then concluded her tribute by thanking Matt for 15 years of 'love and laughter'.

'God knew when Matt's last day would be. We didn't,' she said. 'We all wanted more time with him and we all want just one more day with him. But god snatched him up because he needed him. He knew his hidden pain and saved him.

The couple's eldest son also read a poem to bid farewell to his dad at the memorial service

'Right now he's probably fishing the rivers, playing one more football snap, telling a silly campfire story and making everyone laugh. Singing karaoke, playing with kids or DJ'ing a party and Jesus is asking him to turn down the Sonos speaker.

'Heaven is a little brighter now. So when you all are sad and miss Matt remember he's still here. He's still in all of your hearts and he's in those young men down there. Remember the good times, remember his laugh and the way he made you laugh. He wouldn't want you to be sad or mad even though we all are.'

'Thank you Matt for everything. For 15 plus years of love and laughter, for filling my heart and soul and for the four best gifts in the world. I love you.'

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