Ryan Mallett was just 35 years old when the former Arkansas quarterback — who played for the New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens in a six-year NFL career — died on Tuesday.
Per a statement provided by the Okaloosa County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office to USA TODAY Sports, they were investigating an apparent drowning in the Gulf of Mexico that day, with Mallett pulled out of the water by lifeguards. White Hall School District, where he coached high school football, confirmed that Mallett had died.
The NFL world — including Mallett’s former teammate on the Patriots, Tom Brady — mourned on Twitter after the awful news broke on Tuesday evening:
Tom Brady bids farewell to Ryan Mallett.
“We lost a great man. Thank you for everything Ryan” pic.twitter.com/9fNkZgCA52
— Savage (@SavageSports_) June 28, 2023
— Robert Golden (@R0bG0lden) June 28, 2023
RIP Brother. pic.twitter.com/hIJyHNk0ep
— Grant Cook (@GrantJ_Cook) June 27, 2023
❤️❤️🙏🏽 https://t.co/uxtGU6Aeyh
— Jonathan Williams (@Jwillpart2) June 28, 2023
Ryan Mallet passed?! Come on yo
— Earl Watford (@EWatts78) June 28, 2023
Praying for the family. Love you brother 😔😔😔 https://t.co/Fzbqg0pZt3
— Ronnie Stanley (@megatronnie) June 28, 2023
RIP bro! https://t.co/lltUYp8WaL
— Justin Forsett (@JForsett) June 28, 2023
Rest on NFL family 🙏🏾 https://t.co/dRT5OIVz5N
— Dexter McCoil Sr. (@26Int_Hit) June 28, 2023
