Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died in a drowning accident on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said first responders were called to the beach around 2 p.m. local time after lifeguards pulled an adult male out of the water who “went under” and had stopped breathing.
Authorities said “a group of people in the water near the second sandbar had reportedly been struggling to make their way back to shore.”
“Lifesaving measures were immediately undertaken but the man was pronounced deceased at the Destin Emergency Room,” authorities said.
Mallett, 35, played at the University of Michigan for one season before transferring to the University of Arkansas, where he threw for nearly 7,500 yards, according to ESPN. In 2010, he finished in the top 10 for the Heisman Trophy.
Mallett was chosen by New England Patriots in the third round of the NFL Draft in 2011. After serving as Tom Brady’s backup for three seasons, Mallett was traded to the Houston Texans in 2014, where he played for two seasons. In 2015, Mallett signed with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played in eight games over three seasons.
Mallett had recently served as the head football coach at White Hall High School in White Hall, Arkansas.
“It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett,” White Hall said in a statement. “Coach Mallett was a beloved coach and educator. We ask that you remember his family, team, students, fellow coaches, and the White Hall School District staff in your prayers.”
The University of Arkansas said in a statement that those at the program were “shocked and saddened” by his passing.
“He was a Razorback legend with larger-than-life talent and a personality to match,” the school said. “He led our program to some of our best moments in recent memory. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Debbie and his extended family.”
We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Ryan Mallett. He was a Razorback legend with larger-than-life talent and a personality to match. He led our program to some of our best moments in recent memory. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are… pic.twitter.com/aYlMOBkHAV
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) June 27, 2023
