Tiger Bech, who twice earned second-team All-Ivy League honors playing football for the Princeton Tigers, has been identified as one of the at least 15 victims in the New Orleans terrorist attack early Wednesday morning.
He was just 28 years old.
Suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, drove a truck into a crowd early Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens.
Jabbar was killed in a subsequent shootout with police, and the FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
Bech, who played wide receiver for the Tigers, was in town to celebrate the New Year holiday when he was struck by the terrorist’s vehicle. He was rushed to a local hospital and held on to life support until his family arrived.
Tiger Bech, One Of 15 Victims
Tiger Bech was one of 15 people who were killed in the Bourbon Street attack. He is also the older brother of TCU wide receiver Jack Bech.
The Horned Frogs star confirmed his brother’s passing in a social media tribute.
“Love you always brother!” he wrote on X. “You inspired me every day now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”
Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us ❤️ https://t.co/8sSFf564Mb
— Jack Bech (@jackbech7) January 1, 2025
Princeton coach Bob Surace heralded Tiger Bech for being the utmost competitor.
“He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life,” he told ESPN.
RELATED: College Football’s Elite: The 10 Most Iconic NCAA Quarterbacks
Pursuing A New Career
According to his coach, Tiger Bech was pursuing a new career as a stockbroker in New York when he decided to celebrate the holiday in New Orleans.
And he was always willing to give back to younger Princeton players.
“He was just starting a successful career in the business world,” Surace said. “There were two or three times we had career nights, and you could call him with a day’s notice, and he came down and shared his experiences as a young professional with our team.”
Bech, who was also a punt returner for Princeton University’s football team, earned second-team All-Ivy League honors as a return specialist for two consecutive seasons in 2017 and 2018.
During his time there, he returned 18 punts for 195 yards in 2018, averaging 10.8 yards per return, and contributed significantly to the team’s success, including helping the Tigers achieve their first perfect season since 1964.
More about:College Football News
Read This Next
