Former college football standout Tiger Bech, 28, was killed in a terrorist attack in New Orleans early Wednesday morning, his brother announced. Bech, an all-conference kick returner for the Princeton Tigers, was in the city for the holidays when he was struck by a pickup truck that plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street around 3:15 AM local time. He was transported to a nearby hospital and kept on life support until his family arrived.
Bech played at Princeton from 2017 to 2019, excelling as a kick returner and receiver. During his college career, he scored three touchdowns, made 53 catches, and accumulated 825 receiving yards. After his playing days, he worked as a stockbroker in New York City.
His brother, Jack Bech, who also played college football at TCU and LSU, shared a poignant tribute on social media hours after the tragedy, which killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more. He wrote, “Love you always brother! 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 ❤️”
Princeton coach Bob Surace offered his condolences, praising Bech’s competitive spirit. “He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life,” Surace told ESPN.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. The FBI is investigating the incident and searching for potential accomplices. The Sugar Bowl, scheduled for Wednesday at the Caesars Superdome, was postponed following the attack.