Former NFL quarterback, Ryan Mallett, 35, died in an accident at the beach in Destin, Florida on June 27.
Mallett was attempting to swim to a sandbar in the Gulf of Mexico when he was overcome by the water, as confirmed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a beach attendant at around 2:12 pm reporting that a group of six swimmers, including Mallett, was struggling to reach the shore.
Despite the efforts of two lifeguards who responded when Mallett went under the water, the situation proved fatal.
The authorities have clarified that no rip currents were present at the beach during the time of the incident.
Following his rescue, Mallett was rushed to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The news of his untimely death has left the NFL community in mourning.
The NFL, in its official statement, extended heartfelt condolences to Mallett’s family and loved ones, expressing sorrow over his sudden and unexpected passing. The New England Patriots, Mallett’s first NFL team, also expressed their grief and shared a photo of Mallett during his tenure with the team.
One of his former teammates at the Houston Texans, J.J. Watt, took to Twitter to share his shock and sadness, emphasizing the tragic prematurity of Mallett’s passing.
Mallett, a revered figure in the University of Arkansas, made his mark during his time there, playing in 2009 and 2010. After a promising college career, he was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2011 as a backup to Tom Brady. Mallett later played for the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the NFL. In 2022, he became the head football coach at White Hall High School in Arkansas. Mallett’s sudden departure is a significant loss for the football community.