Former NFL player Ryan Mallett dies at the age of 35

• Former NFL star Ryan Mallett has been confirmed dead after a drowning incident off a Florida beach on June 27
• Authorities said that an individual, who was later confirmed to be Mallett, was not breathing when lifeguards pulled him out of the water

Former NFL star Ryan Mallett has been confirmed dead after a drowning incident off a Florida beach on June 27.

Mallett was on holiday with his girlfriend at the time of his death. According to reports, first responders were called to a beach in Destin at around 2:12 p.m. local time over reports that a group of people were struggling to make their way offshore from a nearby sandbar.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett passed away in apparent drowning. Photo/ CNN.

Authorities said that an individual, who was later confirmed to be Mallett, was not breathing when lifeguards pulled him out of the water. Lifesaving measures were not successful and Ryan Mallett was rushed to the nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. His official cause of death is yet to be released.

After ending his playing career in 2017, Mallett worked as a high school coach in his home state of Arkansas.

“We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Ryan Mallett. He was a Razorback legend with larger-than-life talent and a personality to match. He led our program to some of our best moments in recent memory. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Debbie and his extended family.” The Arkansas football program said in a statement following the death of Ryan Mallett, as per ESPN.

Ryan Mallett was born on 5 June 1988 to a father who was a high school teacher and football coach, and a mother who was a teacher. He went to Texas High School where he graduated. Rivals.com ranked young Mallett as  the No 2 quarterback and the No 4 overall player in the nation during his high school days. He was also the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas in 2006.

Mallett began his college career playing at the University of Michigan before transferring to Arkansas. He starred with the Razorbacks in the back-to-back 30-TD seasons. His best season was in 2010 when he threw for 3,869 yards, 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Mallett also managed a 64.7 completion percentage. He finished seventh in voting for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.

His collegiate awards include 2010 Premier Player of College Football Trophy, Autozone Liberty Bowl Offensive MVP, and 2009 and 2010 All-SEC second team.

A third round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Ryan Mallett joined the New England Patriots. He was with Pats through the 2013 season before being traded to the Texans. He was with the Ravens between 2015 and 2017 before wrapping his career.

Ryan Mallett died at the of 35. Photo/ Us Weekly.

During his time in the NFL, Mallett played 21 games, going 3-5 as a starter. He managed to compile 1,835 passing yards, nine touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

In 2022, the former NFL star was hired as the head football coach at White Hall High School. This was after beginning his coaching career as an assistant at Mountain Home High School.