Jack Pugh, a former tight end on the University of Wisconsin football team, has passed away. He was 24. Pugh stepped away from football three years ago, citing mental health concerns. “The Wisconsin Athletics family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Pugh. Jack was a positive light and brought a genuine spirit to our football program,” Wisconsin Football said in a statement. “More than that, he cared about people and was loved by his teammates and staff. Jack proudly earned his degree from UW-Madison in 2025 and will forever be remembered and loved,” it continued. Our thoughts are with Jack’s family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/nvMTNoAMiQ — Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 1, 2026 More from the Associated Press: Pugh, who was from Columbus, Ohio, redshirted in 2021 before appearing in one game and earning academic All-Big Ten honors in 2022. He announced in an Instagram post in December 2023 that he had decided before that season to medically retire. “My physical health was not near perfect, but my mental health was the reason I decided to hang it up,” Pugh said in that Instagram post. “Over years of prolonged depression and substance abuse, I decided I deserved a better life and to finally find happiness. In no way was football the root of these problems, but everything in my life had distracted me for so long to the point I never had prioritized my mental health all along, digging a deeper darker hole.” “I want to thank the amazing Coaches, Teammates, Friends and Family @badgerfootball has provided me with over the years for helping me find a life I’m happy and proud of, and to finally create a relationship with God. I’ll never forget the memories. Love y’all.” No cause of death has been disclosed at this time. Jack Pugh, a former tight end on Wisconsin's football team who stepped away from football three years ago citing mental health concerns, has died, the university announced. He was 24. https://t.co/eLDniBwx9i — ESPN (@espn) April 1, 2026 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted: A four-star recruit coming out of high school, Pugh was a member of the Badgers’ 2021 recruiting class. Pugh focused on basketball during his first two years at Hilliard Bradley High School near Columbus, Ohio, before joining the football team as a junior. Despite the lack of experience, Pugh received nearly two dozen offers that included Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland and Minnesota.