Reports say Mallett drowned on a Florida beach on Tuesday.
HOUSTON — Former Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned on a Florida beach on Tuesday, according to reports. He was 35.
KHOU 11 sister station THV, in Arkansas, got the news from the vice principal of the high school at which Mallett was the head football coach.
Mallett played in the NFL for six seasons, including parts of two seasons with the Houston Texans. In 2014, he started two games and went 1-1. In 2015, he started four games and went 1-3.
Mallett finished his college football career at the University of Arkansas after starting it at the University of Michigan. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 Draft.
Though Mallett only played for two seasons in Houston, he had some memorable Texans’ moments, including his career first touchdown pass in 2014. It was to Texans legend J.J. Watt. According to NFL.com, it came against Cleveland in Mallett’s first career start, a game Houston won 23-7.
Watt tweeted about Mallett shortly after the news broke.
The Texans and NFL also tweeted condolences.
The Patriots tweeted about his death.