Former NFL and University of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett died in an apparent drowning incident along Florida’s Gulf Coast. He was 35 years old.
Arkansas’ Deltaplex News reported Tuesday that Mallett was transported after the incident from a beach in Destin, Florida, to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials with the White Hall School District, where Mallett worked, confirmed his death. Mallett was the head football coach at White Hall High School.
Mallett played in college as a freshman at Michigan before transferring to Arkansas, where he played two seasons. He was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
He played seven seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.
A native of Batesville, Arkansas, Mallett committed to play for Michigan and made 11 appearances as a freshman backup to Chad Henne.
He transferred to Arkansas after the retirement of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and started as a sophomore and junior with the Razorbacks. He declared for the draft after his junior season to join the NFL.
Mallett played sparingly as a backup to Tom Brady, and the Patriots traded him to the Texans in 2014.
He made nine appearances, including six starts, for the Texas before they released him midseason in 2015.
He then signed with the Ravens, where he made eight appearances, including two starts, through the 2017 season.
He joined White Hall as its football coach in 2022.
Friends, teammates, opponents and organizations from Mallett’s football career reacted to his death.
