Courtesy of Jack Bech/Instagram
Former Princeton football player Beech Tiger was killed in the deadly truck attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street in the early hours of the New Year.
Tiger, 27, was one of at least 15 victims on Wednesday, January 1, when a vehicle drove through a group of revelers on the famous boulevard.
During a three-year career at Princeton from 2017 to 2019, Tiger was a two-time second-team all-Ivy League pick and also caught 53 passes for 825 yards with three touchdowns.
Tiger was the brother of the TCU wide receiver Jack Bechwho remembered his late older brother on social media after the attack.
“I love you always bro!” Jack, 22, wrote via X on Wednesday. “You inspired me every day, now you can be with me at any moment. I have this family T, don’t worry. This is for us ❤️.”
Jack also posted about Tiger via his Instagram Story, calling Tiger his “best friend” and “role model.”
Kyle Rivas/Getty Images
In a statement released by his alma mater after the attack, the Princeton Tigers football coach Bob Surace called his former player “a Tiger in every way.”
“A fierce competitor with endless energy, a loving teammate and a caring friend,” said Surace. “Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he had after graduation. My love goes out to the entire Bech family.”
Surace told ESPN that he had texted with Tiger’s father and Jack, Martinswapping stories about his late son.
“He might be the first Tiger to ever play for us, and that nickname described him as a competitor,” Surace said. “He was someone who somehow, like in key moments, just shone and was full of energy, full of life.”
According to ESPN, Tiger was working as a stockbroker in New York and was in New Orleans to celebrate the holidays.
“He was just starting a successful career in the business world,” Surace said. “There were two or three times we had career nights, and you could call him on a day’s notice, and he would come down and share his experiences as a young pro with our team.”
According to the New Orleans Police Department, at least 15 people were killed in the attack and dozens were injured. The FBI has classified the incident as “an act of terrorism.”
