Former University of Arkansas standout and NFL journeyman Ryan Mallet has died at 35-years-old after drowning at a Florida beach.
Though the specific location has not been released yet, according to Deltaplexnews.com, Mallet reportedly was swimming off the coast when the drowning accident occurred. He was retrieved from the water and was rushed to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead once he arrived at the medical facility.
In the past couple of years, Mallet had stepped away from the NFL to coach football at the high school level. He first started as an assistant at White Hall High School in White Hall, Arkansas back in 2020, and had recently accepted the head coaching role in 2022.
Prior to the beginning of his coaching career, he played in the NFL from 2011 to 2017 for the Patriots, Ravens, and Texans. His natural talent and high-energy play always brought a spark to whatever team he suited up for professionally.
Mallet became a household name in college, where he played one year of collegiate football at Michigan before transferring to Arkansas for his three remaining years.
The quarterback really hit his stride with the Razorbacks, as he still holds the Arkansas Football all-time single-season record for passing touchdowns and passing yards, along with other impressive records for total touchdowns and total offense.
While at Arkansas, he was selected to the All-SEC Second Team twice and led the Razorbacks to many dramatic wins. His stellar play in college garnered attention from the NFL, which lead to his seven year career in the league.
After the tragic news, White Hall High School and the rest of the world has lost a true leader and role model of his sport.
Thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, former teammates, players, and fans… a number of whom took to Twitter to share their condolences:
