John Brenkus, Emmy-Winning Host Of ESPN's 'Sport Science', Dies At 54
John Brenkus, Emmy-winning host of Sport Science, has died at 54.
His death was confirmed via a post on his official X account.
Brenkus battled depression, losing his fight on May 31, 2025.
John Brenkus, the Emmy Award-winning host and co-creator of ESPN's acclaimed series Sport Science, has died at the age of 54. The news was confirmed through a post on his official X account, which said the television personality had been battling depression.
"John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31, 2025," the statement read, requesting privacy for his grieving family and friends. It also urged those struggling with depression to seek help.
pic.twitter.com/RdjqbQXBr9
— John Brenkus (@johnbrenkus_) June 2, 2025
Brenkus was also the founder of Brinx.TV and co-founder of the production company Base Productions. Widely recognised for bringing scientific insight into the world of sports, Sport Science used technology to break down athletic performance and debunk sports myths. The show first aired on FOX Sports in 2007 before moving to ESPN, where it went on to win six Emmys.
In 2023, Brenkus publicly spoke about his mental health struggles in a candid conversation with his ESPN colleague and former NFL player Marcellus Wiley. Recounting a particularly dark period after he had sold his company and was living in Park City, Utah, Brenkus described experiencing severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
"I was flat-out suicidal," he revealed, adding that his dog, Zeppelin, ultimately saved his life by interrupting his suicide attempt. Following that experience, Brenkus sought professional help and eventually found support through a psychiatrist in Virginia. He said at the time that he had not experienced depression since then.
Wiley reposted the announcement of Brenkus' death with a brief tribute, writing "RIP" alongside prayer and heart emojis.
Remembered as "an innovator, an entertainer and an educator," Brenkus leaves behind a legacy that redefined how fans understand sports through the lens of science.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Doris Burke Defends Love for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After Backlash on Free-Throw Comments
Doris Burke went live on The ESPN Communications Podcast and set the record straight about fans alleging that she did not like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With the 2025 NBA Finals approaching, Burke commented on allegations of bias as ESPN's lead analyst and clarified that she loves the reigning NBA MVP, SGA. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Doris Burke calls SGA a 'free throw merchant', which results in backlash Burke made a fair point when she expressed that with multiple teams and their expansive fandoms, it was tough not to receive criticism and make a few enemies along the way. The statement by Burke that drew criticism was when SGA was accused of foul-baiting. Burke said, "This is why he's called the free-throw merchant." While commenting on the backlash, she shared, 'One of the storylines in the Western Conference Finals, in Game 1 in particular, Minnesota had some frustration about the number of free throws that took. And NBA Twitter goes crazy for certain guys who they call 'free throw merchants,' etc. The situation this year reminds me a little of Dwyane Wade in the 2006 Finals against Dallas, where people were incensed at the number of free throws." Doris Burke,Image via ESPN Sports She also added, 'So we talked about the storyline, 'free throw merchant,' and we did that because in Minnesota, 19,000 fans were chanting 'free throw merchant.' We know the viewer at home can hear that. And if they can't hear it, they are wondering what's being chanted. And so we felt going in as a broadcast team, 'this is a storyline. If it plays out where there's a number of free throws happening, it's something we need to discuss. '' Also Read: She further shared, ' fans took exception to that. They didn't like it. And usually, I can tell I feel like I'm doing a decent job when multiple fan bases are pissed off at me… at various times, Boston fans think I hate them, Knicks fans think I hate them, Sixers fans, and now Oklahoma City's like, 'why doesn't Doris like SGA?' I love SGA. Absolutely love him.'
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
RCB victory parade stampede: Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh condole loss of lives
India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar and World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh condoled the "tragic" stampede near Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which killed 11 people and injured nearly 50 fans during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations on incident occurred when thousands of fans gathered near the iconic stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite players during RCB's maiden IPL title felicitation event. The celebratory event, which drew over two lakh fans to the Chinnaswamy Stadium—well beyond its 35,000-seat capacity—was cut short to just 20 minutes after organisers were alerted to the chaos unfolding outside. All RCB players and support staff, including head coach Andy Flower and team mentor Dinesh Karthik, were present at the Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his grief, writing, "What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all."What happened at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, is beyond tragic. My heart goes out to every affected family. Wishing peace and strength to all.— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 4, 2025 Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh offered his condolences, saying, "What was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the incident in #Bengaluru. May the families find strength and the departed souls rest in peace."What was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the incident in # the families find strength and the departed souls rest in peace— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 4, 2025advertisementFormer India spinner Anil Kumble mourned the lives lost and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. "It's a sad day for cricket! My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives while celebrating RCB's victory today. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. Tragic!!" he wrote on a statement, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) expressed deep condolences over the loss of lives and said the felicitation event, which featured players and coaching staff, was promptly altered as soon as the franchise was informed about the stampede outside the stadium."We are deeply anguished by the unfortunate incidents that have come to light through media reports regarding public gatherings across Bengaluru in anticipation of the team's arrival this afternoon. The safety and well-being of everyone is of the utmost importance to us," RCB said in a statement."RCB mourns the tragic loss of lives and extends our heartfelt condolences to the affected families. Immediately upon being made aware of the situation, we promptly amended our programme and followed the guidance and advice of the local administration," the statement added. You May Also Like
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
"I know that Russia's ultimate quest is to recapture Europe" — Stephen A. Smith explains why he'd back Ukraine if elected
(Image Source - Getty Images) On ESPN's First Take, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith made a surprising move by discussing geopolitics, saying that if he were the President of the United States, he would stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression. He noted, 'I know that Russia's ultimate quest is to recapture Europe and I don't want that to happen. Therefore I would help out Ukraine'. Stephen A. Smith's political aspirations take center stage amid foreign policy debates In the recent First Take episode, co-host Molly Qerim asked Smith a playful question: would he choose to be the head coach of the New York Knicks or the President of the United States? Smith humorously opted for the presidency, mentioning he'd prefer not to work with Knicks owner James Dolan. However, the conversation took a serious turn when fellow analyst Chris "Mad Dog" Russo challenged Smith on whether he could handle international disputes, particularly the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Smith firmly asserted his dedication to backing Ukraine against Russian expansionism. Smith recently shared on his show what he thought about Vladimir Putin 's wish to recover Soviet-era territories. He showed that Russia's actions put Europe's stability in danger and that the U.S. must do something to meet them. Robert D. Smith brings to mind what many analysts around the world have been saying about Russia's plans. (Image Source - ESPN's Talk Show First Take) Smith's political commentary has sparked a variety of reactions from the public. On one hand, some folks praise him for diving into complex global matters, but on the other hand, there are those who question if he has the right credentials to discuss international diplomacy. Fans on X are commenting all sorts of things such as '😂😂😂 stay out of geo political topics.' said one user. While another said, 'Russia never controlled Europe so not sure where this perspective came from.' Regardless of the criticism, Smith's statements have certainly widened his public image, shifting from a sports analyst to a voice on global affairs. Also Read: Phoenix Suns hire Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach after Devin Booker endorses him Additionally, Smith is enhancing his media footprint with a new partnership with SiriusXM, on top of his TV and podcast appearances. He's going to host two shows: one daily sports talk show and another weekly show that will cover current events and social commentary.
