Ryan Mallett, former NFL quarterback and backup to the legendary Tom Brady in the New England Patriots, drowned on a Florida beach on Tuesday.
The former player, who had just turned 35, was found in serious condition on Destin Beach, in the area known as the Florida Panhandle, and was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital, where he died.
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday around 2:12 pm, lifeguards were alerted that several people were struggling in the water to reach the shore.
"A group of people in the water near the second sandbar had been struggling to return to shore. One of the individuals, an adult man, went under and lifeguards say he was not breathing when they pulled him out. Life-saving measures were taken immediately, but the man was pronounced dead at the Destin emergency room," the statement details.
Apparently, Mallet would have found himself in the middle of a "rip current", in "a relatively small-scale surf zone current", which could have dragged him under the water.
His former team mourned the death of Ryan Mallett, who was Tom Brady's backup from 2011 to the 2013 season.
"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 those mourning his loss," the message states. .
In addition to the Pats, Ryan Mallet played with the Texans and Ravens during his seven years in the NFL, during which he played in 21 games.
"Horrible news to read about Ryan Mallett. He left too soon. Rest in peace, brother," wrote JJ Watt, who played with him on the Houston Texans.
Ryan Mallett finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2017.
Three years later he began as an assistant coach at Mountain Home High School in Arkansas, until in 2022 he was named head coach.
The 6-foot-7 Arkansas native played two years for the University of Arkansas before entering the 2011 NFL Draft.
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