Former Patriots, Arkansas, QB Ryan Mallett Dies At Age 35

Former NFL and Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, tragically passed away at the age of 35 on Tuesday in an apparent drowning incident at a beach in Destin, Florida.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported that they responded to a distress call around 2:12 p.m. local time, where a group of individuals, including Mallett, was struggling to return to shore after swimming near a sandbar in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite efforts to revive him, Mallett was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The news of Mallett’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the football community. Mallett had recently transitioned into coaching, serving as the head football coach at White Hall High School in Arkansas.

Ryan Mallett’s football journey began at the University of Michigan, where he played for one season before transferring to the University of Arkansas. During his time with the Razorbacks, Mallett displayed remarkable talent, throwing for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns over two seasons.

In 2009, under the guidance of coach Bobby Petrino, he led the team to an 8-5 record and a victory in the Liberty Bowl, earning himself the title of Offensive MVP.

The peak of Mallett’s college career came in 2010 when he amassed 3,869 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, earning him second-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year. He also finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.

In the 2011 NFL draft, Mallett was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round as the 74th overall pick. Coach Bill Belichick explained that the team valued Mallett’s skillset and winning track record. Mallett served as a backup quarterback to the legendary Tom Brady, appearing in limited game time due to Brady’s remarkable durability.

Belichick expressed his sadness at the tragic loss and offered his condolences to Mallett’s family and all those whose lives he impacted.

Tom Brady also paid tribute to him in a heartfelt social media post, highlighting Mallett’s positive impact, Brady said: “We lost a great man. Thank you for everything Ryan.”

Mallett’s professional career continued with the Houston Texans, where he played for two seasons, making six starts over nine games. He was released by the Texans in October 2015 and subsequently signed with the Baltimore Ravens, making two starts in eight appearances before his NFL career concluded.

The Ravens’ head coach, John Harbaugh, expressed his memories of Mallett, emphasizing his love for his teammates and his enjoyment of every moment on the football field.

Throughout his NFL career, Mallett appeared in 21 games, making eight starts. He completed 190 of his 345 pass attempts for 1,835 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Ryan Mallett’s sudden passing has left a void in the football community, where he was remembered as a talented player, a beloved coach, and a person who impacted the lives of many.