Ex-NFL Quarterback Ryan Mallett Dead At 35 After Drowning In Florida

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett — a third-round pick in 2011 NFL Draft — has passed away. He was 35 years old.

TMZ Sports has confirmed … Mallett tragically drowned in Florida. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Mallett was a star prospect out of White Hall High School in Arkansas … where he was one of the top-ranked signal callers in his class. He went on to play at the collegiate level from 2007-10 for the Michigan Wolverines and Arkansas Razorbacks … and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2010.

He was the offensive MVP of the Liberty Bowl in 2010 … and was named All-SEC second team in 2009 and 2010.

Mallett was the 74th-overall pick to the New England Patriots in 2011, serving as a backup to Tom Brady for three seasons.

He was traded to the Houston Texans in 2014, where he would start two games before going down with a season-ending injury. He remained with Houston for six games the next season … before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

Mallett played two more seasons with the Ravens … taking his last NFL snap during the 2017 season.

The former standout took up head coaching after his pro career … joining his alma mater’s football program in 2022.