Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned in Florida at the age of 35 on Tuesday, according to a report from Luke Matheson of DeltaPlexNews.
According to Matheson, Mallett was transported from a Florida beach to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Matheson added in a Tweet that the accident happened in the Destin area.
Mallett was the head coach at White Hall High School, and White Hall superintendent Gary Williams confirmed the news of Mallett’s death, per reports.
A product of Texarkana High School, Mallett committed to Michigan out of high school as the No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2007, according to Rivals.
After spending one season with Michigan, Mallett transferred to Arkansas, where he spent three years with the Razorbacks. In two seasons as the starting quarterback under head coach Bobby Petrino, Mallett threw for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns.
Mallett is first in the Razorback record books for passing yards in a season (3,869), passing touchdowns in a season (32), passing touchdowns in a career (62) and most 300-yard passing games in a career (9).
The 6-foot-6 passer was selected the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, who he spent two seasons with. Mallett played nine games across the 2014-15 seasons with the Houston Texans and he finished his NFL career out with a three-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens.
New England released a statement regarding Mallett’s death on Tuesday evening.
“The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of former quarterback Ryan Mallett. Our thoughts are with the Mallett family, his former teammates and all who are mourning his loss.”
In February of 2022, Mallett was named the head football coach at White Hall High School. The Bulldogs finished with a 4-6 record during the one season that Mallett served as head coach.
Here are some reactions from the college football world regarding the tragic death of an Arkansas legend.