The institution confirmed the passing of Jack Pugh, an erstwhile tight end for Wisconsin’s football team, who had withdrawn from the sport three years prior due to mental well-being issues. He was 24 years old.
On Tuesday evening, Wisconsin published an update via its football squad’s X profile, announcing Pugh’s demise. Specifics, such as the reason for his passing, remained undisclosed.
“The Wisconsin Athletics family is profoundly grieved by the loss of Jack Pugh,” the aforementioned post stated. It continued, “Jack was a beacon of positivity and infused authentic enthusiasm into our football program. Beyond that, he held genuine affection for others and was cherished by his fellow players and personnel. Jack honorably obtained his diploma from UW-Madison in 2025 and shall always be recalled and cherished.”
Our sympathies extend to Jack’s kin during this challenging period. pic.twitter.com/nvMTNoAMiQ
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 1, 2026
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Pugh took a redshirt year in 2021, subsequently participating in a single match and achieving academic All-Big Ten accolades in 2022. In December 2023, he revealed via an Instagram update that he had opted prior to that campaign to medically withdraw from the sport.
“My bodily well-being was far from ideal, but my psychological state prompted my decision to retire,” Pugh conveyed in that Instagram update. He elaborated, “Following numerous years of enduring extended depression and substance misuse, I concluded I merited a more fulfilling existence and to ultimately discover contentment. Football was by no means the origin of these issues; rather, all facets of my existence had diverted my attention for such an extended period that I had never given precedence to my psychological well-being, excavating an even profounder abyss.”
He concluded, “I want to express gratitude to the wonderful Coaches, Teammates, Friends, and Family @badgerfootball has furnished me with throughout the years for assisting me in discovering a life I find gratifying and honorable, and to ultimately establish a bond with the Divine. I will eternally cherish the recollections. Affectionately, everyone.”