The girlfriend of late former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett took to social media to pay tribute after he drowned off the coast of Florida last week.
Mallett played for the New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the 35-year-old drowned in Destin, Florida while he was on vacation with girlfriend Madison Carter.
Carter was with Mallett when he and several others were stuck on a sandbar and tried to swim back. Mallett went under and was pulled out of the water by lifeguards, who tried to resuscitate him on the shore to no avail as he was pronounced dead at a hospital.
On Sunday, Carter took to Facebook to post her touching message to Mallett following the tragic incident. She wrote: “How do I even find the words. I prayed for you for 27 years, and we finally found each other. I trust that God has a plan for everything, but I don’t think I will ever understand why this happened. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you, and I hope you know how hard I tried.
“Everyone knows how talented, dedicated, and passionate you were about the game of football. Those of us who were lucky enough to know your heart know that it was even bigger than your larger-than-life personality and stature. Nothing was ever about you, it was always about others. Multiple times, I heard you say ‘there are so many good people in this world,’ and that statement alone shows what kind of person you were. Always looking for the good.
“I can never thank you enough for loving me the way that you did. In such a short time, you showed me the love I have prayed for my entire life. You loved me fiercely and unapologetically. We were planning our future. We were just getting started. I’m sure some think we’re crazy for feeling the way we did about each other in such a short time. I thought we were crazy at first too. But you helped me understand that when two souls connect the way ours did, love has no set timeline.
“Words cannot convey how badly I miss you. I hope you know how loved you are. By myself, your amazing family, your friends, your teammates, your students, and countless others. I don’t know how I’ll ever get past this. But I’m so honored to love you and be loved by you.
“You changed my life, and I’m forever grateful for the time we had. No amount of time would have ever been enough. I love you, Ryan. Please watch over us. I can’t wait to see you again.”
Mallett was reportedly with up to 12 people when he got caught in a riptide, which have been fatally prevalent over the last few months. On Tuesday, CNN reported that 11 people have died in rip currents in under two weeks.
Mallett played in the NFL from 2011 to 2017 after a college career with Michigan and Arkansas, throwing 62 touchdowns in two seasons with the Razorbacks. The Patriots selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, staying in New England until the 2014 campaign when he joined the Texans.
He was later traded to the Baltimore Ravens before he came a free agent in March 2018. After he walked away from the NFL, Mallett became a football coach for White Hall High School in Arkansas.
