Former Princeton football player Martin “Tiger” Bech was killed in the truck attack that left 15 people dead and 35 others injured in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day, his family confirmed Wednesday. He was 27.

His friend, colleague, and former Princeton football teammate Ryan Quigley of the class of 2020 was injured in the attack. Quigley is a native of Lansdale, Pa.

The pair were in Louisiana for a long weekend of hunting and fishing with college friends and were scheduled to fly back to New York City Wednesday afternoon.

Both Bech and Quigley worked at Seaport Global, a brokerage firm in New York City.

Bech, a Louisiana native who graduated from Princeton in 2021, was a member of the Princeton football 2016 and 2018 Ivy League championship teams. He earned two All-Ivy honors as a return specialist for the Tigers, including second-team accolades during Princeton’s first perfect season since 1964 in 2018. He also recorded 53 catches for 825 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver during his career with Princeton.

“There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached,” said football coach Bob Surace in a written statement. “He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way — a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate, and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he was having after graduation. My love goes to the entire Bech family.”

Bech was struck by the truck allegedly driven by 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas. Bech suffered internal bleeding, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, where he attended high school, told NOLA.com. He was taken to a local New Orleans hospital, where he was put on life support until his family could arrive, according to NOLA.com.

“Love you always brother! You inspired me every day now you get to be with me in every moment,” his brother Jack Bech posted on social media.

Krystal Knapp

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.