DESTIN, Fla. — Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who also played for the New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens during five seasons in the NFL, has died. He was 35.
Mallett died in an apparent drowning, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Mallett was a football coach at White Hall High School in his native Arkansas, and the school district also confirmed his death in a post on its website Tuesday.
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said the university “lost an incredibly special person.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Ryan Mallett,” Yurachek posted on Twitter.
Mallett played one season at Michigan before finishing his college career at Arkansas. He passed for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns in two seasons with the Razorbacks.
The Patriots selected Mallett in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He appeared in four games for them during the 2012 season, completing 1 of 4 passes for 17 yards.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he was “extremely saddened by Ryan’s tragic passing.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the many people whose lives he touched,” Belichick said in a statement the team posted on Twitter.
Mallett made six starts in nine games with the Texans (2014-15) and two starts in eight appearances with the Ravens (2015-17). He completed 190 of 345 attempts in the NFL for 1,835 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions
