John Brenkus, the Emmy-winning host and co-creator of ESPN’s “Sport Science,” died by suicide on May 31, 2025, according to the Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He was 54 years old.
Brenkus’s family announced his death on June 1 through a statement posted on his X account and the Brinx.TV website. The statement indicated that Brenkus had been battling depression and that he “lost his fight with this terrible illness.” His heartbroken family and friends requested privacy while encouraging anyone struggling with depression to seek help.
The cause of death was confirmed by medical examiner records obtained by TMZ on June 3, 2025. Brenkus was the co-founder of BASE Productions, founder of Brinx.TV, and co-creator and host of the six-time Emmy Award-winning “Sport Science” program.
“Sport Science” first aired on Fox Sports Net in 2007 before moving to ESPN in the 2010s. The show gained global popularity for its unique examination of athletic performance through scientific analysis. According to ESPN’s description, the series uncovered sports’ biggest myths and mysteries by using cutting-edge technology to measure momentum, friction and the laws of gravity.
During his career, Brenkus hosted nearly 1,800 segments explaining the correlation between science and sports. The program won six Sports Emmy awards and featured professional athletes participating alongside Brenkus in demonstrations of scientific principles applied to athletic performance.
ESPN paid tribute to Brenkus on “SportsCenter” following the announcement of his death. Network representatives described him as an innovator, entertainer and educator who would be missed by many. The tribute aired on Monday, June 2, with anchors Randy Scott and Riggs Cuff acknowledging his contributions to sports media.
Brenkus had previously been open about his mental health struggles. In January 2023, he appeared on Marcellus Wiley’s podcast “Never Shut Up” and discussed his battle with depression. He explained that after selling “Sport Science” to ESPN and living in Park City, Utah, he felt isolated and spiraled into what he described as a deep depression.
During that 2023 interview, Brenkus revealed he had been suicidal and had a noose tied around his neck, ready to end his life. He credited his dog Zeppelin with saving him by tugging on his jeans and pulling him out of his suicidal state. Brenkus stated, “I was flat-out suicidal.”
Following that incident, Brenkus called his mother and told her something was wrong with him mentally. He then embarked on what he described as a battle to recover, seeking help from six different psychologists and psychiatrists before finding a doctor in Virginia who helped him find the right path to recovery.
At the time of the 2023 interview, Brenkus indicated he had not experienced depression since finding proper treatment. He emphasized the importance of discussing mental health issues and encouraged people to know that help was available through hotlines, friends, family and other support systems.
Brenkus used his platform to raise awareness about mental health challenges, describing his experience as both his greatest blessing and greatest victory. He characterized his journey through depression as marching through a valley of darkness to reach a better place.
The sports media community expressed grief over Brenkus’s death. Former ESPN fantasy football analyst Matthew Berry remembered him as the ultimate professional who was kind, encouraging, smart and inventive. Berry noted they had remained friends after he appeared on an episode of “Sport Science.”
Wiley, who had interviewed Brenkus about his mental health struggles, reposted the announcement of his death with “RIP” and prayer and heart emojis. Other sports media figures also shared their condolences and memories of working with Brenkus.
The family’s statement concluded with an encouragement for anyone struggling with depression to seek help, emphasizing the importance of mental health resources and support systems.