Reed Ryan, UM Duluth Football Player, Dead at 22 After Collapsing During Workout: 'Epitome of a UMD Bulldog'
The defensive lineman died after going into cardiac arrest during a football workout
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Reed Ryan Dead At 2The University of Minnesota Duluth football player Reed Ryan died on Tuesday, more than a week after collapsing during a team workout, the university's athletics department said Wednesday.
The 22-year-old collapsed after going into cardiac arrest on Nov. 21. Ryan’s collapse was the result of an undetected genetic heart condition, according to his obituary.
The athletic training team implemented CPR and Ryan regained his pulse. He was then taken to St. Mary's-Duluth Medical Center, where the ICU staff treated him before his death.
Ryan was a double major in Marketing and Professional Sales at the University’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics.
“Reed had a contagious smile and lived life to the fullest in his short years. Reed loved people, he could talk to anyone and prided himself on being surrounded by friends, family, mentors, and being part of a team,” Ryan's obituary reads.
He is survived by his parents, his sister, his brother, his two nephews, his grandmother, his great-aunt and his two uncles.
"Our staff and players are devastated about Reed's passing," UMD head football coach Curt Wiese said in a statement. "Reed aspired to be better every day at whatever task was at hand. He helped bring out the best in others with his positive attitude, infectious smile, and genuine care for the people around him.”
“We were fortunate to have Reed on our team, and he made our program, our department, and our community a better place in a short period of time. Reed will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever,” Wiese continued. “He was the epitome of a UMD Bulldog, and what we can all aspire to be."
UMD director of athletics Forrest Karr added, "Reed had a positive impact on so many and we are deeply saddened by his passing. Reed was a kind, caring and thoughtful young man who enjoyed bringing people together."
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Before enrolling in UMD, the Wisconsin native graduated from Waunakee High School in 2019 and was the State of Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year. Throughout his high school football career, he achieved a total of 147 tackles, including 63 tackles for loss and 34 sacks. Ryan also wrestled for his high school team and garnered more than 100 wins.
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After his high school career, he accepted a full scholarship to play football at North Dakota State University for four seasons. He transferred to UMD in 2023. This season, the defensive lineman had seven tackles and assisted another eight tackles in nine games.
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