On January 1, former Princeton wide receiver and return specialist Martin “Tiger” Bech died during the terrorist attack in New Orleans on Bourbon Street.

Bech, 27, was in a crowd of people when a truck drove through, killing 14 individuals and injuring multiple. Bech suffered severe internal bleeding, was taken to the hospital, and put on life support.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

He was on life support until his family arrived. He was taken off life support shortly after, and he passed away.

Tiger’s brother, Jack Bech, was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Jack wrote a letter to his brother to let him know how much he means to him and that he knows Tiger will be with him in every aspect of his life in the future.

“So I want to make sure you know now. For all time. I want you to understand…. You were my best friend, Tiger. My role model. The person I wanted to be,” Jack said.

Tiger was a receiver and return man for Princeton University. During his junior season, Bech led the Ivy League in average punt return yards and helped contribute to Princeton’s Ivy League championship.

Bech was a two-time Second-Team All-Ivy League selection as a return specialist, and he won two Ivy League Championships.

He graduated in 2021 with a degree in sociology. Bech worked in the finance world as a junior bonds trader, specializing in cybersecurity.

On April 14, 2025, former Super Bowl Champion Don Hasselbeck, 70, died from a cardiac arrest.

Hasselbeck was at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, when he had a cardiac arrest. Don’s son, Matt Hasselbeck, confirmed his father’s passing on Instagram.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

He shared a heartfelt message in honor of his father. “Despite being an All-American at Colorado and a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, what we are most proud of is the leader he was for our family,” Matt said.

Hasselbeck attended the University of Colorado, where he was named an All-American in 1975. He was also a two-time First-team All-Big Eight selection.

He entered the 1977 NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the New England Patriots. During his seventh year with the Patriots, he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders.

The Raiders primarily used Hasselbeck as a blocking tight end, but he had two catches for two touchdowns during the 1983-84 season.

During the 1983-84 season, Hasselbeck won the Super Bowl. He blocked an extra point during the Super Bowl in the Raiders’ 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Hasselbeck retired after the 1985 season. He played nine seasons in the NFL, accumulating 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns.

In 2024, he was inducted into the University of Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame for his stellar career with the Buffaloes.

On April 19, Missouri State safety Todric McGee died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police responded to a wellness check at McGee’s residence. There, police found him with a gunshot wound, and he was transported to the hospital. It was ruled that McGee’s gunshot wounds were accidental, and he had no signs of mental health issues.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

 McGee’s high school teammate, Zaire Adkins, shared his memories with McGee and explained the type of person he was. 

“He was a lighthearted person. He was always joking around and explaining things in the funniest way. His smile was contagious and infectious,” Adkins said.

In high school, McGee was a three-star recruit, and he committed to Missouri State University. 

During his redshirt sophomore season, McGee led the team with 102 tackles. He also had two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and eight pass deflections. He was named to the Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference that season.

During the 2024 season, McGee only played in five games before suffering a season-ending injury. Despite only appearing in five games, he finished eighth in tackles with 42.

On April 25, former St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty died after battling numerous health issues at 74.

Jockketty was in the hospital for months following a lung transplant. Unfortunately, his health continued to decline, which led to his death.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals, Bill DeWitt Jr., commented on Jocketty’s unfortunate passing. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ball club, and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchise’s most successful and memorable years,” DeWitt Jr. said.

Jocketty was hired as the Cardinals’ GM in October 1994. During his 13 seasons with the Cardinals, the team made the postseason six times, won two National League pennants, and claimed one World Series title.

After the 2007 season, Jocketty was fired due to organizational differences between Jocketty and ownership.

The Cincinnati Reds hired Jocketty in April 2008. During his time as the Reds’ GM, the team won the NL Central in 2010 and made the postseason three times.

After the 2015 season, he stepped down from the GM role and took over as president of baseball operations. He served this role until the end of the 2016 season.

He then took over a senior advisory role under the team’s ownership. He held this job until his passing.

On April 20, longtime play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick, 80, passed away from natural causes.

Dick Vitale, who called many games with Patrick, shared his condolences and memories on X.

“Mike had great energy and a keen knowledge of ACC basketball, and I truly enjoyed sitting next to him and calling so many special games over the years,” Vitale said.

>IN MEMORIAM: 50 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2025

Patrick began his broadcasting career in 1966. He started his career in radio and, by 1975, had become the weekend sports anchor for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.

He was also the play-by-play announcer for the Maryland Terrapins basketball and football teams, and he called Washington Redskins preseason games.

In 1982, Patrick joined ESPN, where he called many games and events. He was the voice of Sunday Night Football, the NCAA Women’s Final Four, and called play-by-play for the College World Series.

Patrick was also granted the opportunity to call NFL playoff games. One of the games he called was the unforgettable Music City Miracle, which pitted the Tennessee Titans against the Buffalo Bills.

Patrick called his final game in December 2017, and he officially retired in 2018, marking the end of a 35-year career with ESPN.

On January 10, legendary college football head coach Bill McCartney died from complications of dementia at 84.

McCartney was the head football coach at the University of Colorado from 1982 to 1994. During his thirteen seasons as the head coach, Colorado had a 93-55-5 record.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

In 1990, Colorado was co-national champion with Georgia Tech, as the Colorado Buffaloes were the No. 1 team in the AP poll, while Georgia Tech was the No. 1 team in the UPI Coaches poll.

Eric Bieniemy, who was a running back on the National Championship team, shared his memories of coach McCartney. “When I look back, Coach Mac brought us together and helped us as young men to define our purpose in life by gaining a complete understanding of commitment, accountability and resilience,” Bieniemy said.

During McCartney’s tenure at Colorado, he also won three consecutive Big Eight Championships, was a three-time Big Eight Coach of the Year, and a one-time Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and Walter Camp Coach of the Year.

Colorado also appeared in the Orange Bowl three times and in the Fiesta Bowl once under coach McCartney.

In 2013, McCartney was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is also in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and received the Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award.

On March 25, former U.S. Soccer Secretary General Hank Steinbrecher died from complications of degenerative heart disease.

Steinbrecher, 77, had been battling Fabry disease, which is a rare genetic disorder that can cause heart, kidney, and brain problems.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Steve Sampson, the former U.S. men’s national soccer team coach, released a statement remembering how much Steinbrecher meant to him.

“Hank was one of the most influential persons in my life,” Sampson said. “Our game is immensely better because of Hank.”

In 1990, Steinbrecher assumed the roles of Secretary General and Executive Director of the U.S. Soccer Federation. During his tenure in this role, he helped bring the FIFA Men’s World Cup to the United States, launched Major League Soccer, and elevated both the men’s and women’s U.S. national teams.

Steinbrecher stepped down from his role in early 2000.

In 2005, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

In 2012, Steinbrecher received the Werner Fricker Builder Award, the highest honor awarded by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

On January 15, former NBA Champion Gus Williams died from complications of a stroke.

Williams, 71, suffered a stroke back in February 2020. After his stroke, he needed long-term assisted care.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson shared his condolences to Williams and provided insight into the type of person he was. “He was one of my dad’s closest teammates and didn’t have any kids of his own, so he would check on me quite a bit,” Johnson said.

Williams played college basketball at the University of Southern California. In his four seasons, he was named to the All-Pac-8 First Team twice and served as the team captain in his senior year.

Williams entered the 1975 NBA Draft and was selected in the second round by the Golden State Warriors.

After two seasons with the Warriors, he left the team in free agency to sign with the Seattle SuperSonics. In Seattle, Williams’ career took off.

He was a starter for the 1979 championship team, was a two-time All-Star, and a two-time All-NBA selection. He also won the NBA Comeback Player of the Year award in 1982.

In 1987, Williams retired after an 11-year career.

Williams had his No. 1 jersey retired by Seattle in 2004, and in 2012, his No. 10 jersey was retired by USC.

On March 11, University of Louisville Athletics Hall of Famer Junior Bridgeman died from a heart attack.

Bridgeman, 71,  was at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, when he reportedly said he felt like he was having a heart attack. He collapsed shortly after, and emergency personnel responded right away.

Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead shortly after.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

NBA legend Magic Johnson shared his condolences on X.

“But it was his character, his kindness, and his gentle soul that truly left a lasting impression on me,” Johnson said. “He was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.

Bridgeman played his collegiate basketball at the University of Louisville. There, he was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, named an All-American, and helped lead the team to the Final Four.

He entered the 1975 NBA Draft and was selected No. 8 by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded shortly after to the Milwaukee Bucks, in a blockbuster trade that sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers.

Bridgeman played 12 seasons in the NBA, carving out a role as a sixth man for most of his career. Many believe that if the Sixth Man of the Year Award were around, Bridgeman would have won it.

In 1988, the Bucks retired Bridgeman’s No. 2 jersey in honor of his productive contributions to the franchise. Bridgeman became an owner of the Bucks and Ebony magazine.

On March 5, tennis legend Fred Stolle died from cancer at 86 years old.

Stolle had a profound impact on many during his career, and his death was deeply felt across the tennis world. Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley released a statement following Stolle’s passing.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

“His legacy is one of excellence, dedication, and profound love for tennis,” Tiley said. His impact on the sport will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege to witness his contributions.”

Stolle began his amateur tennis career in 1958. By 1966, he had become the World’s No. 1 amateur, and he turned professional shortly after.

During his professional career, Stolle won 19 Grand Slam titles. Two were singles, 10 men’s doubles, and seven mixed.

Stolle retired in 1978 and transitioned into a new role as a tennis announcer. He started commentating for Australia’s Channel Nine at Wimbledon in 1979.

In the early 1980s, Stolle joined ESPN and served as a lead tennis commentator.

In 1985, Stolle was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 1988, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

On January 16, legendary sports broadcaster Bob Uecker passed away from lung cancer.

Before his career as a broadcaster, Uecker was a catcher in the MLB from 1962 to 1967. Uecker played for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies. In 1964, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, who won the World Series.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

In 1971, Uecker started his career as the voice of the Brewers. Uecker was an announcer for the Brewers for 54 years, one of the longest tenures in MLB history. Following Uecker’s passing, Christian Yelich, an outfielder for the Brewers, shared a heartfelt message, highlighting how much Uecker’s relationship meant to him.

“You’d always thank me for my friendship, but the truth of it is the pleasure was all mine. I’ll miss you, my friend,” Yelich said.

Uecker will forever be remembered at American Family Field, where the Brewers play, as he has a statue at the field. In section 422, row 1, seat 1, Uecker is also recognized for often joking around during the broadcast, mentioning that he always sits in the last row at the top of the stadium.

In 1994, Uecker was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame, and in 2001, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Uecker is also a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, received the Ford C. Frick Award, and is a part of the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor.

On March 12, former NBA player Oliver Miller passed away from cancer.

Miller played college basketball at the University of Arkansas. During his four seasons of college basketball, Arkansas compiled a 115-24 record and advanced to the Final Four in 1990. In 1991, Miller was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year and Southwest Conference Tournament MVP.

Miller entered the 1992 NBA Draft and was selected No. 22 overall by the Phoenix Suns. During his rookie season, he was a crucial piece to the Suns, helping the team make the NBA Finals.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Cedrick Ceballos, a former teammate of Miller with the Suns, shared his condolences on X. “This one is hurting. I want to hear you laugh one more time,” Ceballos said.

Miller played nine seasons in the NBA. His best season came in 1995-96 with the Toronto Raptors, when he averaged 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game.

After his NBA career, Miller played professional basketball overseas in China, Greece, Puerto Rico and Poland. He also has a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters.

In 2016, Miller was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor. He was also inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2024.

In June 1996, former NFL star Deion Sanders was fishing on the property of the Southwest Florida International Airport, which led to his being arrested for trespassing.

Police found Sanders fishing on private property and informed him that he needed to bring his boat in because he wasn’t allowed to fish there. Sanders told officers that he wasn’t going to do so, which led to his arrest.

>50 ‘BEST CELEBRITY MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Sanders was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and pleaded no contest. Sanders was fined over $250 in court costs and placed on probation for six months, during which he was required to work 50 hours with youth in the Fort Myers area.

During his career, Sanders was a highly respected athlete. He attended Florida State University, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1988. He would go on to be selected fifth overall in the 1989 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

In Sanders’ NFL career, he played for five different teams, winning the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994 and with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996. In addition to winning the Super Bowl in 1994 with San Francisco, Sanders also brought home the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Sanders finished his NFL career with two Super Bowl rings, one Defensive Player of the Year award, eight Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

In addition to playing in the NFL, Sanders also played professional baseball in the MLB, with some of the seasons overlapping.

In 2020, Sanders became the head coach of Jackson State’s football program, where he won two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and appeared in the Celebration Bowl twice. In 2022, he was hired as the head coach at the University of Colorado, where he is currently coaching.

On February 16, 2011, future MLB Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and two misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer without violence.

An officer found Cabrera outside of his vehicle on the side of the road with the engine smoking. The officer reported smelling alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, noticing slurred speech, and claimed that Cabrera took a drink from a bottle of Scotch in front of him.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

In January 2012, Cabrera entered a plea deal in which he pleaded no contest to the DUI charge, and the other charges were dropped.

He was sentenced to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, more than $500 in court costs, a six-month license suspension, and he was ordered to attend a DUI education program and a victim-impact panel.

In 1999, Cabrera signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent at the age of 16. He made his major league debut in 2003 and spent five seasons with the Marlins.

In December 2007, Cabrera was traded to the Detroit Tigers. During his time in Detroit, Cabrera was an eight-time All-Star, and he won back-to-back MVP Awards in 2012 and 2013.

Cabrera retired after the 2023 season, cementing himself as one of the greatest players in Tigers’ history. He will be eligible for the 2029 Hall of Fame, where he will almost certainly be a first-ballot selection.

On December 31, 2008, former NBA star Charles Barkley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).

Barkley was pulled over after he ran a stop sign. When the officer approached the vehicle, they smelled alcohol and conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which Barkley failed.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

He was arrested shortly after he failed the sobriety tests. At the scene, Barkley refused to take a breathalyzer test, but a blood test later revealed that his blood alcohol content was .149, which is almost twice the legal limit in Arizona.

Barkley faced three charges: two DUI misdemeanors and one count of running a red light. He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

He was sentenced to five days in jail, which was later reduced to three days, over $2,000 in fines, and he was required to attend an alcohol-awareness program. Barkley was also required to have an ignition-interlock device installed in his vehicles.

Barkley is widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players never to have won a championship ring. He played college basketball at Auburn University, where in his junior season, he won the SEC Player of the Year Award.

Barkley entered the 1984 NBA Draft, where he was selected No. 5 by the Philadelphia 76ers.

During his 16-year NBA career, Barkley was an 11-time All-Star and an 11-time All-NBA selection. During the 1992-93 season, Barkley took home the NBA MVP award.

Barkley retired in 2000, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Barkley is currently an analyst for Inside the NBA, alongside Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.

On May 16, 1994, former tennis star Jennifer Capriati was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for marijuana possession.

Capriati was at the Gables Inn Motel in Coral Gables, Florida, when police entered her room after receiving information that a 17-year-old runaway was in her room. Capriati was the only person in her room at the time of the search, but officers found under 20 grams of marijuana in her backpack.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Instead of entering a traditional plea deal, Capriati agreed to enroll in a drug counseling and rehabilitation program. Capriati completed the program, which led to the misdemeanor charge being dropped from her record.

Capriati was known as a tennis phenom. She turned professional at 13 and won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics at 16.

She won three major singles titles during her career. She won the Australian Open in 2001 and 2002, and she won the French Open in 2001.

Capriati retired after the 2004 season due to right shoulder and back injuries. In 2012, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

On December 3, 1998, pro wrestling star Paul Wight, who’s better known as The Big Show, was arrested after he allegedly exposed himself to a female employee at a motel.

Wight was in Memphis, Tennessee, for a WCW event when the incident occurred. The female employee reported the incident to police, and Wight was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Wight debuted in WCW in 1995 as The Giant. In WCW, he won the World Heavyweight Championship two times.

He signed with the WWF, now known as WWE, in 1999 and was renamed The Big Show. During his time with the WWE, Wight won multiple championships, including the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, United States Championship, Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team Championships.

In 2021, Wight left the WWE after his contract expired and signed with AEW, where he competes under his real name. In AEW, Wight competes and serves as an announcer for the company.

On April 19, 2025, former NFL player Justin Blackmon was arrested and charged with public intoxication.

Blackmon was outside of Oklahoma State University’s Edmon Low Library when he was found heavily intoxicated and passed out. Officers noted that Blackmon smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred speech and was wearing wet clothes.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Blackmon was sentenced to one year of probation, and his jail sentence was suspended. If Blackmon violates his probation, his jail sentence can be activated.

At Oklahoma State, Blackmon was a standout wide receiver. In 2010 and 2011, Blackmon won the Biletnikoff Award, becoming the second receiver in college football history to win the award twice.

Blackmon was also a unanimous All-American during his two Biletnikoff seasons. He entered the 2012 NFL Draft, where the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him No. 5 overall.

After a solid rookie season, in 2012, Blackmon was suspended for the first four games of the season due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Blackmon returned from suspension and played four games before being suspended indefinitely for another violation.

In 2015, Blackmon was denied for reinstatement, and he hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since week 8 of the 2013 season.

In May 2002, backyard fighting legend Kimbo Slice was arrested for a felony gun charge and a misdemeanor for an open container in public.

The arrest took place before Slice’s internet fame, when he would compete in bare-knuckle street fights in backyards around the Miami area.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Slice had his felony gun charge dropped, and he attended an alcohol education class for the open container misdemeanor.

In 2003, videos of Slice competing in backyard fighting hit the internet. By 2004, the videos started to get posted on YouTube, and his popularity grew.

UFC CEO and president Dana White was very critical of Slice, saying that he could never compete at the highest level of the sport. Despite White’s doubts, he allowed Slice to compete in the UFC after Slice was selected for season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, and Slice went on to have two fights in the organization.

Slice went 1-1 in the UFC, and after signing with Bellator, where he had two fights, winning one and the other ending in a no-contest.

On June 3, 2016, Slice was hospitalized and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Three days later, on June 6, Slice passed away due to cardiac arrest.

On December 21, 2009, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was involved in an incident where he brought four unloaded firearms into the locker room due to a gambling dispute with his teammate, Jarvis Crittenton.

Arenas reportedly placed four pistols near Crittenton’s locker, and he put a note that said, “Pick one.”

>50 MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Teammates eventually called 911, and the news of the incident broke on January 1, 2010. Police and federal prosecutors opened an investigation, and on January 14, Arenas was arrested and charged with felony possession of an unlicensed pistol.

Arenas admitted that he brought an unlicensed firearm into the arena, and he pleaded guilty to his charge.

He was sentenced to two years of probation, 400 hours of community service, 30 days in a halfway house and a $5,000 fine. The NBA also suspended Arenas for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.

Arenas attended the University of Arizona, where in his sophomore season, he helped lead the team to the Final Four. After his sophomore season, Arenas entered the 2001 NBA Draft, where he was selected No. 31 by the Golden State Warriors.

During his 11-year NBA career, Arenas was a three-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA selection, and he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2002-03 season.

Arenas retired in 2012 at the age of 30.