AUSTIN, Tx.–University of Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger was found dead Thursday, according to police in Austin. Jake Ehlinger was the younger brother of Quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Sam was drafted in the 6th round of the NFL draft last month by the Indianapolis Colts.
The Austin Police Department said it received a call at 12:18 p.m. local time and responded to a residential area just west of the Texas campus and found Jake Ehlinger unresponsive.
No cause of death was released and police said the death was not considered suspicious.
Ehlinger arrived at Texas in 2019 after his high school playing career at Westlake, but did not play the last two seasons. Ehlinger joined the team as a walk-on under former coach Tom Herman.
The current Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called the death “a tragedy beyond measure.”
“Words cannot express the depth of our sadness and the huge void we are feeling, but above all else, our hearts pour out to Sam, Jena, Morgen and the entire Ehlinger family,” Sarkisian said in a statement. “Jake was a tremendous person and was everything you could ask for in a student-athlete. Being a Longhorn meant everything to him, and he truly embodied all that it means to be one.”
Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay also offered condolences on Thursday.
“I know how close they were and we’re just really stunned, but we are prayerful and we know God has a plan. We are doing everything we can to console the family and do what we can to make things as easy as possible at this difficult time,” said Irsay.
Sam and Jake’s father, Ross, died in 2013 during a triathlon in San Francisco from a heart attack at age 46. Both sons dreamed of playing for the Longhorns after growing up as season-ticket holders.
