Former College Football Player Jack Pugh Dead at 24 After Quitting the Sport for His Mental Health

Former Wisconsin football tight end Jack Pugh has died

NEED TO KNOW

• The school confirmed Pugh's death in a post on social media

• Pugh, 24, retired due to mental health reasons in 2023

Former Wisconsin football player Jack Pugh has died, the school confirmed. He was 24.Pugh played tight end for the Badgers from 2021-2023 before retiring due to mental health reasons,theMilwaukee Journal Sentinelreported.No cause of death has been released at this time.Wisconsin football shared a tribute to the former player on X late Tuesday, March 31."The Wisconsin athletics family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Pugh,"the school said. "Jack was a positive light and brought a genuine spirit to our football program. 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."The Columbus, Ohio native was a four-star recruit for the Badgers despite only playing football for his final two years in high school.

Pugh was highly recruited by Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland and Minnesota, according to theJournal Sentinel.In 2023, Pugh announced his retirement on Instagram.

"My physical health was not near perfect, but my mental health was the reason I decided to hang it up," he posted at the time. "Over years of prolonged depression and substance abuse, I decided I deserved a better life and to finally find happiness."

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He continued, "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 didn't want to be alive for years. I never had prioritized my mental health all along, digging a deeper darker hole."

Pugh went on to thank his coaches, teammates and others for their support."I'll never forget the memories. Love y'all," he wrote.Pugh's former teammate, New York Jets running back Braelon Allen, shared the news of his death on social media on Monday night, and added a message to his followers."Protect your mental,"he wrote on X.

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byMario Satorik

in

April 01, 2026

Former College Football Player Jack Pugh Dead at 24 After Quitting the Sport for His Mental Health

Former Wisconsin football tight end Jack Pugh has died NEED TO KNOW The school confirmed Pugh's death in...

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This day in history: Soap opera General Hospital premieres

April 1st is known to many as April Fools' Day, but for television fans, it was the daythe small screengot serious about drama. On this day in 1963, two of the most influential medical soap operas in history made their debut on national television:General HospitalandThe Doctors.

Both shows chose a hospital as their primary setting, which was a relatively new concept for thesoap opera genreat the time. By focusing on the lives of doctors, nurses, and patients, these programs were able to blend professional medical crises with intense personal drama.

A soap opera is a long-running TV or radio drama that reflects a set of ongoing, melodramatic storylines, high emotional drama, and complex relationships.The Doctors,premiered on NBC, was set in the fictional Hope Memorial Hospital. For many years, it was a staple of the network's daytime lineup, known for its dedicated fan base and its focus on the moral and romantic dilemmas of its medical staff.

On the same day,General Hospitalpremiered on ABC. Set in the fictional Port Charles, New York. In its early years, it wasn't the massive hit we know today. In fact, by the late1970s, the show faced the threat of cancellation due to low ratings. Afterproducer Gloria Montytook over everything changed. She introduced younger characters and worked on the storytelling. The most famous change was the introduction ofLuke and Laura. Their 1981 wedding remains the highest-rated hour in the history of American soap operas, with 30 million viewers tuning in.

The Doctorseventually left the air in1982,General Hospitalcontinued after that and broke many records, winning numerous Daytime Emmy Awards and launching the careers of several famous actors.

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General Hospital premiered in black-and-white as a half-hour show. It is now the longest-running American soap opera in production, holding the record for the most Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series with18 winsas of 2025.

The Doctors was initially designed as an anthology series where characters changed frequently, rather than a continuous serial. Due to low ratings (3.4) with the anthology format, it switched to a traditional continuing serial format in March 1964, which immediately doubled its ratings. The show ran for nearly 20 years until December 31, 1982.

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byMario Satorik

in

April 01, 2026

This day in history: Soap opera General Hospital premieres

April 1st is known to many as April Fools' Day, but for television fans, it was the daythe small screengot serious a...

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Lakers clinch playoff berth, Pacific Division title with Suns loss

For the second consecutive year, theLos Angeles Lakerswill finish the regular season atop the Pacific Division.

The Lakers (49-26) clinched a playoff spot and the division title before their game against theCleveland Cavalierson Tuesday night even tipped off, thanks to thePhoenix Suns'115-111loss to theOrlando Magicearlier.

With division title already in tow, the Lakers defeated theCavaliers,127-113, on Tuesday night. With the win, the Lakers have secured back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

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Luka Doncic made a statement in his return froma one-game suspensionafterreceiving his 16th technical foulin LA's win over theBrooklyn Netson Friday, leading all scorers with 42 points. He also had 12 rebounds and 5 assists Xto re-assert himself in the MVP conversation. Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayrton added another boost offensively with 19 and 18 points, respectively.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

While the Lakers have historically dominated the Pacific with 26 titles since the division was established in 1970-71, their current run of two straight since the arrival of head coach JJ Redick snapped a dry spell that began aftertheir NBA championship run in 2019-20.

The red-hot Lakers — winners of 11 of their last 17 — currently sit as the third seed in the West after Monday, one game ahead of the fourth-placeDenver Nuggetsand three games ahead of theMinnesota TimberwolvesandHouston Rockets. And with their postseason spot now in hand, LA could have a chance to cement their claim at the third spot with wins over theDallas Mavericks,Golden State Warriors, Suns andUtah Jazz.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Los Angeles Lakers clinch playoff spot, Pacific Division title

byMario Satorik

in

April 01, 2026

Lakers clinch playoff berth, Pacific Division title with Suns loss

For the second consecutive year, theLos Angeles Lakerswill finish the regular season atop the Pacific Division. ...

Read More