Thursday saw some sad news out of the Texas Longhorns’ football program with the news of the passing of linebacker Jake Ehlinger. Ehlinger (seen above), 20 and the younger brother of famed Longhorns’ quarterback Sam Ehlinger (who was drafted 218th overall in the sixth round of this year’s NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts), arrived at Texas in 2019, but never recorded a regular-season stat for the Longhorns. Here’s more from Brian Davis of The Austin American-Statesman on what’s known so far:
Police said they received a call at 12:18 p.m. and found Jake Ehlinger in the 1200 block of West 22nd Street. Authorities did not specify how they found him but did say his death is not considered suspicious. He was 20.
No cause of death or other details were released.
This led to Sam Ehlinger leaving the Colts’ rookie camp, with support from the team. Adam Weinrib has more on that at Horseshoe Heroes:
Former Texas Longhorns QB Sam Ehlinger rushed home from Indianapolis’ rookie camp on Thursday after news broke that his younger brother Jake, a linebacker at UT, was found dead off campus.
And Davis has a quote from Colts’ coach Frank Reich:
A Colts spokesman tells me the team is working to fly QB Sam Ehlinger back to Austin today.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisUT) May 6, 2021
Colts coach Frank Reich: "We will do everything we can. With Sam, our thoughts and prayers are with him and his mother and his sister as they mourn the tragic death of Sam’s brother, Jake.”
— Brian Davis (@BDavisUT) May 6, 2021
Colts’ owner Jim Irsay also tweeted his condolences:
We grieve and weep with the Ehlinger family. Prayers, love and support.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 6, 2021
Our thoughts go out to the Ehlinger family, and to their friends.
