Former Wisconsin football player, who left the sport amid mental health struggles, dead at 24

Jack Pugh, ex-Wisconsin tight end, dies at 24

Jack Pugh, a former University of Wisconsin tight end who stepped away from football due to mental health struggles, has died at age 24, the university announced Tuesday. Pugh played for the Badgers from 2021 to 2022. The cause of death was not disclosed.

An Ohio native, Pugh redshirted his freshman year and made his debut against Minnesota the following season. In December 2023, he announced his medical retirement on Instagram, citing mental health issues over physical ones. "My physical health wasn’t near perfect, but my mental health was the reason I decided to hang it up," Pugh wrote, adding that years of depression and substance abuse had led him to prioritize happiness.

The Wisconsin Athletics Department issued a statement mourning Pugh, who earned his degree from UW-Madison in 2025. "Jack was a positive light and brought a genuine spirit to our football program," it said. "More than that, he cared about people and was loved by his teammates and staff."

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen, a former Wisconsin teammate, posted on X: "Protect your mental."