University of Northern Iowa football star Parker Sutherland died on Saturday, February 14. He was 18.
“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of our Parker Sutherland,” the college’s director of athletics, Megan Franklin, wrote in a statement released by the university on Saturday. “He embraced the opportunity to play Panther football and represent the University through sport.”
Franklin continued, “We are devastated — just devastated. The blessing is that we have a Panther family who will hold the Sutherland family, our football team, and our athletics staff close as we grieve.”
Sutherland, who is survived by his parents and sister Georgia, had appeared in four UNI games as a tight end during his 2025 freshman season.
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“I’m heartbroken. No words can express my condolences to [his parents] Adam [and] Jill and Georgia,” UNI head coach Todd Stepsis said in a statement of his own. “Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther. His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was.”
Stepsis further praised Sutherland’s character traits off of the gridiron.
“His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of,” the coach noted. “While I’m saddened that our time together was short, we will celebrate the bright light that he brought to our football team for the rest of our lives.”
A cause of death for Sutherland has not been publicly shared, though local outlet KCRG reported that police officers had “responded to the school’s football complex” shortly before his death.
In the hours preceding his death, the Panthers football team honored Sutherland’s memory during their Saturday night game.
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“We pause today to honor Parker Sutherland,” an announcer said in the middle of the game. “[He was] a teammate, a friend and a proud member of the UNI football family.”
Sutherland’s death was shocking for many of his peers, who recalled seeing the student athlete smiling just days earlier.
“Passing him in the hallways and seeing his friendly face and just saying ‘hi,’” fellow first-year student Natalia Flack told KCRG. “It was really hard. I couldn’t believe it. I had just seen him on Wednesday and he was smiling, happy eating, like he always is. And just a couple days later, he was gone. It’s just surreal.”
According to Flack, the football team’s moment of silence on Saturday was especially moving.
“It was just crazy seeing his face on that screen,” she said. “That’s somebody I’ve talked to almost every single day since being here, and it was really special. He loved this campus. He loved the Panthers, and I’m just glad that we’re always going to remember him as somebody who fought to be here and deserved everything.”
Sutherland and Flack had both graduated from Iowa City High School last year.
“This loss is heartbreaking, and we know it will impact many in our community,” the Iowa City High principal told the outlet. “We extend our deepest condolences to Parker’s family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.”
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