Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr comments following drowning death of Ryan Mallett

Former college and NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned in Florida this past Tuesday. He was 35 years old. Mallett had last played in the NFL in 2017 following a seven-year pro career after splitting his collegiate time at Michigan and Arkansas, spending one year with the Wolverines before moving home to Fayetteville. After his pro retirement, he returned to Arkansas and was most recently coaching football at White Hall High School.

Following reports of his shocking death, folks around the football world who knew him sent out prayers and messages reflecting on the tragedy, including his old coach at Michigan, Lloyd Carr. In a phone call with the Associated Press the day after Mallett’s death, Carr commented this about his former QB:

“He lived with great enthusiasm and he could really throw the ball with incredible arm strength. By the time he was a senior at Arkansas, he was physically mature. You don’t see many guys like him.”

Nice words from the old UM coach on Mallett the person and the football talent. And he wasn’t the only former coach or colleague of Mallett’s to share such kind thoughts following his passing.

“Ryan was a part of us,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh commented in a Twitter post by the team. “I will always remember the love he had for his teammates and for making the most of, and enjoying every football day while here.”

Mallett landed in Baltimore during the 2015 season and wound up spending the final 2.5 years of his career there before ultimately hanging up his cleats after the 2017 season.

One of his old teammates, JJ Watt, also shared a brief comment after the news: “Horrible news to read about Ryan Mallett,” he posted on Twitter. “Gone way too soon. Rest in Peace brother.”

Though he wasn’t around back when Mallett was in school, current Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yuracheck posted his own statement on Twitter regarding the school’s former athlete. “Our @RazorbackFB family lost an incredibly special person today,” Yuracheck wrote Tuesday on Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Ryan Mallett.”

Just an awful piece of news that came down the pipeline this week. Ryan Mallett was a tremendous football talent obviously, but was also so clearly loved dearly by coaches, teammates and fans. To quote JJ Watt, rest in peace to a guy gone far too soon.