Police have released video of the scene where former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Mallett drowned at a Destin, Florida, beach. Body-cam video posted on Facebook by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office show an officer rushing to the scene.
The sheriff’s office noted that riptides — which have led to a number of recent deaths at nearby Panama City Beach — were not to blame. Lifeguards were able to pull Mallett out of the water but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
“Investigators say Mallett began struggling while attempting to swim to a second sandbar about 150 feet offshore of the beach near Gulf Shores Drive in Destin around 2:15 p.m.,” the post said. “Despite widespread media misinformation, yellow beach safety flags were flying at the time and there were no indications of any ‘riptides.'”
Officials are still investigating the incident.
Mallett, a former Gatorade High School Player of the Year, played one season for the Michigan Wolverines before transferring to Arkansas, where he threw for 62 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and 7,493 yards in two seasons. He earned All-SEC Second Team honors in 2009 and 2010.
Drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Mallett played seven NFL seasons, mostly as a backup, with the Patriots, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.
Former Patriots teammate Tom Brady paid tribute to Mallett on social media, saying, “We lost a great man. Thank you for everything, Ryan. Praying for the Mallett family and all their loved ones tonight.”
