Reed Ryan, a 22-year-old football player at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, died Tuesday, one week after going into cardiac arrest following a football workout.
“Reed went into cardiac arrest on November 21st following a football team workout in the weight-room doing what he loved. This was the result of an undetected genetic heart condition and a large, loving heart,” the obituary for Ryan reads.
“The athletic training team was tremendous in their efforts to immediately initiate CPR and regain his pulse. The ICU hospital staff at St. Mary’s-Duluth were amazing in doing everything possible for him.”
Ryan, a native of Waunakee, Wisconsin, played four years at North Dakota State University, where he won national championships in 2019 and 2021, before transferring to UMD for the 2023 season.
“Our staff and players are devastated about Reed’s passing,” said UMD head coach Curt Wiese. “Reed aspired to be better every day at whatever task was at hand. 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, our department, and our community a better place in a short period of time. Reed will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever. He was the epitome of a UMD Bulldog, and what we can all aspire to be. To his family, thank you for allowing us to be part of his inspiring young life. Reed was a Bulldog through and through.”
Forrest Karr, the director of athletics at UMD who is also from Waunakee, issued a statement saying: “Reed was a kind, caring and thoughtful young man who enjoyed bringing people together.”
Ryan’s funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Blackhawk Church in Middleton, Wisconsin.
