Ehlinger’s brother found dead by police
AUSTIN — University of Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger was found dead by Austin police officers Thursday, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Ehlinger, a redshirt sophomore and the younger brother of former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, was found unresponsive at the 1200 block of West 22nd Street, just a couple miles from Royal-Memorial Stadium on the UT campus. Police first received a call Thursday at 12:18 p.m. alerting them to the situation.
The Austin Police Department did not reveal a probable cause of death or any other details about the scene, but they did tell the Statesman that Ehlinger’s death is not considered “suspicious.”
“Our hearts are truly broken and we are just devastated today to learn of the passing of our Longhorn family member Jake Ehlinger,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “Jake was an amazing young man from an extraordinary family with such a bright future ahead of him. It’s just such a tragedy that we are all really struggling with.”
Like his older brother, Ehlinger played at Austin Westlake before joining the Texas program as a walk-on in 2019. Sam Ehlinger was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in last week’s NFL draft, and social media videos showed the family celebrating the moment together. The younger Ehlinger had yet to appear in a game at Texas but was a two-time member of the Big 12 commissioner’s honor roll.
“Our hearts pour out to Sam, (mother) Jena, (sister) Morgen and the entire Ehligner family,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Jake was a tremendous person and was everything you could ask for in a student-athlete. Being a Longhorn meant everything to him, and he truly embodied all that it means to be one.
“In the short time we were able to get to know him, he always was a joy to be around and gave everything he had in workouts, meetings, practice and in life. This is a tragedy beyond measure, and as I told the team today, in a time like this all we can do is open our hearts, pull together and do our best to provide love and support to each other, especially to the Ehlinger family.”
In a statement released by the Colts, Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said: “There are no magic words in these moments, but all we can do is be there to love and support Sam. We will do everything we can.”
Said Colts owner Jim Irsay in a statement to NFL Media: “Our hearts and prayers are with the whole family. I know how close they were, and we’re just really stunned.”