Global Courant
Former professional football player Ryan Mallett died in Florida on Tuesday from a suspected drowning, officials said.
Mallett, 35, was pronounced dead at a hospital after being pulled unconscious from the water in Destin, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s spokesman Michele Nicholson said the drowning victim is Mallett.
The Arkansas school district, where he worked as head football coach, confirmed his death in a statement Tuesday, and former NFL and Mallett teams shared their condolences.
“It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett,” said the White Hall School District. “Coach Mallett was a beloved coach and educator.”
The NFL reports this in a statement Twitter: “The NFL family is deeply saddened by the passing of Ryan Mallett. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett before a preseason game in Baltimore in 2017.Nick Wass / AP file
Mallett was a former quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks who was drafted by the New England Patriots. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.
Last year, Mallett head coach of his high school football teamreported the White Hall Bulldogs, Little Rock NBC affiliate KARK.
“We are saddened by the passing of Ryan Mallett” The Ravens tknowed Tuesday. “Ryan was a great person and a loyal teammate.”
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement on Twitter that he was “extremely saddened by Ryan’s tragic passing.”
The sheriff’s office said Mallett was part of a group of distressed swimmers when first responders arrived at Destin Beach, about 43 miles west of Panama City Beach, at about 2:12 p.m.
“A group of people in the water at the second sandbar reportedly struggled to get back to shore,” it said. “One of the individuals, an adult male, perished and lifeguards say he was not breathing when pulled out.”
Multiple swimmers have died in recent days along Florida’s Gulf Coast, where swimming restrictions and no-swim restrictions have been placed on some beaches.
The coast along Panama City Beach was the subject of a coastal warning message at 10 p.m. Tuesday night. The National Weather Service warning says dangerous rip currents were to be expected.
“Even the best swimmers can be dragged from shore to deeper water by rip currents,” it said.
The Panama City Beach area has been the site of 12 “surf zone” deaths through Sunday this year, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. Ten of the 12 occurred this month, the agency said.
