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Who was Jake Ehlinger? Texas Linebacker and brother of NFL star Sam Ehlinger found dead near campus

'You’ll be missed more than you could imagine,' tweeted Brandon Jones from Miami Dolphins

Jake Ehlinger, who played in the Linebacker position in the University of Texas football team, was found dead near the university campus on Thursday, May 6, 2021 according to police in Austin, Texas. He was the younger brother of NFL player and Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Sam Ehlinger. According to USA Today, Austin police responded to a call on Thursday afternoon when they found Ehlinger dead. Further details about his death have not been specified. 

As soon as the shocking news of his death surfaced, football icons took to social media to mourn his untimely demise and send their condolences to the Ehlinger family. Meanwhile, Sam Ehlinger or any other member of the family are yet to issue any official statement about the death. 

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Who was Jake Ehlinger?

According to his Twitter bio, Ehlinger was a student of McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. He was supposed to graduate in 2023 and was a Sophomore at the time of his death. As per the University of Texas Football Roster, Jake played in the position of Linebacker and joined the team in 2019. However, he did not play in either of the last two seasons in 2020 as a Freshman. 

Prior to college, he was also a part of the school football team at Westlake. The Ehlinger family hails from Austin, Texas where Jake grew up. They had lost their father Ross Ehlinger to a heart attack in 2013 while he was participating in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco.

Just days before his death, on Saturday, May 1, 2021, Jake's face was shown by mistake on the NFL Network instead of his older brother. Sam reportedly loved the mistake and cheerfully said, "Good, good. Jake deserves all the screen time you can get.”

On May 6, the authorities did not reveal many details about Jake Ehlinger's death. However, they did clarify that the circumstances of his death are not being considered suspicious.

'This is horrible to see'

Jake Ehlinger's sudden death has sent shockwaves in the world of football. "Literally devastated. I love the Ehlinger family like my own. Rest In Peace Jake. You’ll be missed more than you could imagine. #48," tweeted Miami Dolphins' Brandon Jones. 

Kansas City Chiefs player Creed Humphrey tweeted, "This is horrible to see. Prayers to the Ehlinger family."

"We grieve and weep with the Ehlinger family. Prayers, love and support," wrote Jim Irsay, the CEO of Sam Ehlinger's team Indianapolis Colts. 

One Twitter user mourned, "RIP Jake Ehlinger.... News I was not expecting to hear today... Feel so bad for Sam and the family.. Right after his older brother gets drafted.. absolutely horrible."