White Hall head coach and former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett tragically passed away after drowning in the Gulf of Mexico, according to confirmation from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post, The US Sun reports.

During his football career, Mallett played in the NFL from 2011 to 2017, representing teams such as the New England Patriots, the Houston Texans, and the Baltimore Ravens.

Mallett's former teammate Tom Brady shared a heartfelt tribute to him on his Instagram story, expressing his sorrow and gratitude for their time together.

He wrote, "We lost a great man. Thank you for everything, Ryan. Praying for the Mallett family and all their loved ones tonight."

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Ryan Mallet Death

Tragic news has emerged as Ryan Mallett has died after drowning on a Florida beach. He was 35.

The incident occurred when Mallett and a group of 9 to 12 others were caught in a rip current, per Deltaplex News.

Reports from Destin, Florida, indicate that everyone else managed to reach safety, but Mallett encountered difficulties and struggled in the water until he submerged.

Emergency personnel responded swiftly and transported Mallett to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The White Hall School District expressed deep sadness over the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett, emphasizing his role as a beloved coach and educator. They requested prayers for his family, team, students, fellow coaches, and the White Hall School District staff during this difficult time.

The University of Arkansas also released a statement in response to the passing of the former Razorback quarterback.

They expressed shock and sorrow, highlighting Mallett's status as a Razorback legend known for his exceptional talent and charismatic personality.

The university acknowledged his significant contributions to the program and conveyed condolences to his mother, Debbie, and his extended family.

Ryan Mallett was appointed as the head football coach at White Hall on February 23, 2022.

Ryan Mallett Career

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett had a career from 2011 to 2017. He began as a third-round pick for the New England Patriots in the 2011 NFL Draft and played with them until 2013, per NFL.

He then joined the Houston Texans for a season and a half before concluding his career with the Baltimore Ravens from 2015 to 2017.

Throughout his NFL tenure, Mallett appeared in 21 games, starting eight of them. He amassed 1,835 passing yards, throwing nine touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Before his professional career, Mallett played college football at Michigan and Arkansas. He gained recognition for his impressive performances with the Razorbacks, achieving back-to-back seasons with 30 touchdown passes.

Selected 74th overall in the 2011 draft, Mallett was initially considered a potential first-round pick but fell to the Patriots in the third round.

During his time with the Patriots, he served as a backup to the legendary Tom Brady in the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

In 2014, Mallett was traded to the Houston Texans, where he started six games throughout the season.

Notably, he led the Texans to a 23-7 victory in his first career start against the Cleveland Browns on November 16, 2014. His first touchdown pass in that game was caught by defensive end J.J. Watt, marking a memorable moment.

Mallett was released by the Texans during the 2015 season and subsequently signed by the Baltimore Ravens to fill in for the injured Matt Schaub later that year.

One of his notable achievements with the Ravens was leading the team to a thrilling 20-17 victory over their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 16 of the 2015 season.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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