Reed Ryan, 22, of the University of Minnesota Duluth died

Reed Ryan, a University of Minnesota Duluth football player, died at the age of 22 after experiencing cardiac arrest during a team practice.

A valued member of the collegiate athletic community has passed away.

Reed Ryan, a University of Minnesota Duluth football player, has died. He was 22.

Reed died on Nov. 21 after going into cardiac arrest due to an undiscovered inherited heart disease while working out with his football team. Despite receiving first aid from the school’s sports training team and being sent to St. Mary’s-Duluth’s ICU, Reed died on Nov. 28.

“Reed had a contagious smile and lived life to the fullest in his short years,” according to his obituary. “Reed loved people; he could talk to anyone and took pride in being surrounded by friends, family, mentors, and teammates.” He founded his own online vintage business, Thriftted Tiger, and enjoyed traveling, shoe collecting, painting, going to concerts, and cooking.”

Curt Wiese, head football coach at the University of Maryland, also paid honor to the player on the team’s Instagram.

“Reed aspired to be better every day at whatever task was at hand,” Curt said at the start of his address. “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, department, and community a better place in a short period of time,” he concluded. He exemplified what it means to be a UMD Bulldog and what we can all strive to be. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of his remarkable young life. Reed was an unmistakable Bulldog.”

Reed, a native of Waunakee, Wis., obtained a full football scholarship at North Dakota State University after graduating from high school in 2019, before joining the UMD Bulldogs in 2023. He was a three-time Commissioner’s scholastic Excellence award recipient, a four-time Missouri Valley Football Honor roll member, and he won three championship rings during his athletic and scholastic career.

His parents, Erin and Stephanie, his sister Robyn and brother Chase Parr, nephews Everett and Benson, grandma Joanne, dog Sconnie, and many close relatives and friends survive him, according to his obituary.