Ryan Mallett Dies at 35 from Drowning; Former NFL QB Played for Patriots, Texans

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died Tuesday from drowning at a beach in Destin, Florida, per Luke Matheson of Deltaplex News. He was 35.

First responders were called to the beach at 775 Gulf Shore Drive around 2:12 p.m. ET on Tuesday after a group of swimmers near a sand bar were struggling to get back to shore, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office (h/t Lauren Campbell and Mark Daniels of MassLive).

Lifeguards pulled one of the individuals, later identified as Mallett, out from under the water and said he wasn't breathing. First responders performed lifesaving measures on the former quarterback, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The superintendent of White Hall High School in Arkansas, where Mallett was the head coach, confirmed the news.

"It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett," White Hall School District said in a statement, per ESPN. "Coach Mallett was a beloved coach and educator. We ask that you remember his family, team, students, fellow coaches and the White Hall School District staff in your prayers."

Mallett began his college football career at Michigan in 2007 as a backup to Chad Henne before transferring to Arkansas and starting 26 games between the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Mallett threw for more than 3,600 yards and at least 30 touchdowns in each of his seasons with the Razorbacks. He went on to be selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.

"I am extremely saddened by Ryan's tragic passing," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said in a statement, per Daniels. "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the many people whose lives he touched."

Serving primarily as a backup to Tom Brady, Mallett appeared in just four games for the Patriots during the 2012 season before the franchise traded him to the Houston Texans ahead of the 2013 campaign.

The Arkansas native also played for the Baltimore Ravens over his five-year career from 2012 to 2017.

In 21 NFL games (eight starts) he completed 55.1 percent of his passes for 1,835 yards and nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions.

Following his playing career, Mallett began coaching and served as an assistant at Mountain Home High School. He was named head coach at White Hall last year.