Ex-Wisconsin tight end Jack Pugh dies at 24
The University of Wisconsin announced the death of former football player Jack Pugh on Tuesday. Pugh, a tight end for the Badgers from 2021 to 2022, was 24. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Pugh, an Ohio native, redshirted his freshman year and debuted in a 2022 game against Minnesota. In December 2023, he stepped away from football, citing mental health struggles in an Instagram post. "My physical health wasn’t near perfect, but my mental health was the reason I decided to hang it up," he wrote, adding that years of depression and substance abuse had led him to prioritize his well-being.
The university's 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 read. "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."
