Ryan Mallett, a former quarterback for Arkansas who also played for New England, Houston, and Baltimore during his five NFL seasons, passed away in Florida after ostensibly drowning.
He was 35. Apparently drowning, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, is how Mallett passed away. In his home state of Arkansas, Mallett coached football at White Hall High School. The school district also announced his passing on its website on Tuesday.
According to Hunter Yurachek, director of athletics for Arkansas, the school “lost an incredibly special person.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and teammates of Ryan Mallett,” Yurachek wrote on Twitter.
A group of people in the water close to the second sandbar, according to deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, had reportedly been attempting to swim back to land. Lifeguards reported that when they took out a guy who authorities later identified as Mallett from the water, he was not breathing. At the hospital, his death was confirmed.
Mallett spent one season playing at the University of Michigan before completing his undergraduate studies at Arkansas. In two seasons with the Razorbacks, he passed for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns. During the 2011 NFL Draft, Mallett was chosen by New England in the third round. During the 2012 campaign, he played in four games for the Patriots and completed one of four throws for a total of 17 yards.
Mallett made two starts in eight outings with the Ravens and six starts in nine games with the Texans. In the NFL, he finished 190 of his 345 passes for 1,835 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
“Ryan was a part of us,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a Twitter post by the team. “I will always remember the love he had for his teammates and for making the most of, and enjoying every football day while here.”
In his first start on Nov. 16, 2014, Mallett directed Houston to a 23-7 victory at Cleveland. His first career TD pass was a 2-yarder to defensive end J.J. Watt.
“Horrible news to read about Ryan Mallett,” Watt posted on Twitter. “Gone way too soon. Rest in Peace brother.”
Former Boston Red Sox player Will Middlebrooks wrote on social media that he had lost his “best friend.”
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