UNI College Football Player Parker Sutherland Dies at 18, Days Before His Birthday

A University of Northern Iowa football player has died at 18.

Parker Sutherland died on Feb. 24, just days before his 19th birthday, the university said in a statement released Saturday, Feb. 14.

Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue had previously been called to a university athletics facility on Thursday, Feb. 12, according to reports from the Des Moines Register and The New York Times. First responders responded to a report of an “unconscious/fainting (non-trauma)” incident.

The university did not disclose Sutherland’s cause of death. Joel Wauters, the school’s assistant athletics director for communications, said the cause was not being released out of respect for the family.

“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family,” UNI athletics director Megan Franklin said. “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.”

Head football coach Todd Stepsis said he was “heartbroken” by the loss, describing Sutherland as someone who “embodied everything we look for” in the program.

“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 said. “His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of.”

Sutherland appeared in four games for the Panthers in 2025 as a tight end and wore jersey No. 89.

Before college, he attended Iowa City High School, where he was a second-team all-state selection and also played basketball and baseball. He enjoyed video games, watching movies, pickleball and Legos, according to the university’s athletics website.

He is survived by his parents, Adam and Jill Sutherland, and his sister, Georgia. The university said it is offering condolences to his family and friends and noted that support services would be available to students, faculty and staff.