News that John Brenkus has died at the age of 54 has shocked fans. His official cause of death has not been released, but a post on his official X post revealed that it is related to his struggles with depression.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away,” the statement on his X page read at 9:17 p.m. on June 1.

Brenkus was an author, a Sports Science host, and more.

He had opened up about his issues with depression in an interview in 2023 with former NFL player Marcellus Wiley.

“John, co-founder of Base Productions, founder of Brinx.TV, and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy award-winning Sport Science had been battling depression,” the post on his X page reads. “John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025.”

The statement notes: “His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.”

Sports Science “ran for three seasons in the late 2000s: two with FOX Sports Networks and one with ESPN,” according to FOX 10.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote on X, “Prayers up for John Brenkus and his family. The man who gave us the Emmy-winning Sports Science lost his battle with depression at the age of 53.”

In the Wiley interview, Brenkus discussed depression, a suicide attempt and mental health.

‘”I fell into a very deep depression,” he said. “I spiraled into a deep, deep depression and I was flat-out suicidal.”

But he said that his dog saved his life at that time, coming  “to my rescue… and in my suicidal funk, I was like: ‘What am I doing?’ I literally picked up my phone, called my mom and said: ‘There’s something wrong with me. I am mentally lost.'”

If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis, there is help available through a national hotline. You can find it here.

“988 is now the three-digit dialing code that routes callers to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or 988 Lifeline),” the website says.

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Tragic Cause of Death for John Brenkus Is Related to His Depression Struggle first appeared on Men’s Journal on Jun 2, 2025