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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away,\u201d the statement on his X page<\/a> read at 9:17 p.m. on June 1.<\/p>\n Brenkus was an author, a Sports Science host, and more.<\/p>\n He had opened up <\/a>about his issues with depression in an interview in 2023 with former NFL player Marcellus Wiley.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn, 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.”<\/p>\n The statement notes: “His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports Science “ran for three seasons in the late 2000s: two with FOX Sports Networks and one with ESPN,” according to FOX 10. <\/a><\/p>\n Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote on X,<\/a> “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.”<\/p>\n In the Wiley interview<\/a>, Brenkus discussed depression, a suicide attempt and mental health.<\/p>\n ‘”I fell into a very deep depression,” he said. “I spiraled into a deep, deep depression and I was flat-out suicidal.”<\/p>\n But he said that his dog saved his life at that time, coming\u00a0 “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.'”<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n “988 is now the three-digit dialing code that routes callers to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or 988 Lifeline),” the website says.<\/p>\n Related: Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Allen Wedding Photos Turn Heads<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n