American football participant, 18, suddenly dies as | NFL News
The University of Northern Iowa is grieving the death of 18-year-old tight end Parker Sutherland. Sutherland, who performed American football for the UNI Panthers, handed away on Saturday morning, as announced by the varsity. The freshman, who featured in 4 matches during the 2025 season, died just days shy of his nineteenth birthday.
The NCAA programme didn’t reveal a trigger of death, respecting the household’s privateness. The tragedy deeply affected the scholars at the Cedar Falls campus. The college enrolled practically 10,000 college students for the educational yr, marking a historic second event.
“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of our Parker Sutherland,” said UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin.
“He embraced the opportunity to play Panther football and represent the university through sport. We are devastated. Just devastated.”
Head coach Todd Stepsis portrayed Sutherland as a younger man whose affect reached past the pitch. He expressed his devastation upon listening to the news.
“I’m heartbroken,” Stepsis said. “Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther.
“His expertise and potential excited us on a daily foundation, but it failed to examine to the kind of individual and team-mate he was.”
Standing at six feet and six inches and weighing 221 pounds, Sutherland was a freshman in exploratory studies and was beginning to carve out a role in the Panthers’ offence.
The Panthers’ website reveals that the tight end featured in matches against Utah Tech, North Dakota, Illinois State, and Murray State.
During his senior year at Iowa City High, he secured second-team all-state honours and was twice named all-district and all-conference. He also showcased his athletic versatility by competing in basketball and baseball.
Away from the football pitch, Sutherland reportedly enjoyed video games, films, pickleball, and Lego building. He leaves behind his parents, Adam and Jill Sutherland, and his sister, Georgia.
The family has asked for time and privacy as they come to terms with what the university described as an “unimaginable loss.”
Support providers are being offered to college students, college, and employees as the campus neighborhood mourns.
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