John Brenkus, the Emmy Award-winning host and co-creator of ESPN’s “Sport Science,” died by suicide on May 31, 2025, after battling depression. He was born in July 1971 and was 53 years old. The Virginia Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death to multiple media outlets.
Brenkus’s death was announced through a statement posted on his social media accounts and the Brinx.TV website on June 1, 2025. The statement indicated that Brenkus had been dealing with depression and that his heartbroken family and friends requested privacy while encouraging anyone struggling with depression to seek help.
The television host and producer was best known for creating and hosting “Sport Science,” which premiered in 2007 on Fox Sports Network before moving to ESPN in the 2010s. The show earned six Emmy Awards during its run from 2007 to 2017, examining sports’ biggest myths and mysteries using cutting-edge technology to measure momentum, friction, and the laws of gravity.
Brenkus served as both host and executive producer of the series, often participating in experiments alongside professional athletes. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, he frequently put himself in harm’s way as the show’s “Everyman” to demonstrate what happens when regular people compete against elite athletes. Throughout the show’s tenure, he hosted nearly 1,800 segments explaining the correlation between science and sports.
The Vienna, Virginia native was also co-founder of Base Productions and founder of Brinx.TV. Beyond television, Brenkus authored “The Perfection Point,” a New York Times bestseller that calculated the limits of athletic performance. He also served as executive producer of “Crime 360” in 2008 and was an accomplished athlete himself, participating in multiple Ironman Triathlon races.
Brenkus had been open about his mental health struggles in recent years. During a January 2023 appearance on former NFL player Marcellus Wiley’s show “Never Shut Up,” he detailed falling into what he described as a deep depression after selling “Sport Science” to ESPN and moving to Park City, Utah. He attributed his mental health decline to isolation, cold weather, injuries and other factors that caused him to spiral.
During that interview, Brenkus revealed he had contemplated suicide and was saved by his dog Zeppelin, who pulled on his jeans and distracted him from his suicidal thoughts. He credited the dog with pulling him out of his suicidal state, prompting him to call his mother and seek help. Brenkus stated at the time: “I have never been depressed since, a day in my life, from that moment forward.”
Following his revelation about his mental health crisis, Brenkus described seeking treatment from six different psychologists and psychiatrists before finding a doctor in Virginia who helped him find what he called the “right path.” He spoke about depression not being about sadness but about thought loops that trap people mentally, and he considered overcoming his depression his greatest victory.
ESPN colleagues and sports media figures expressed their condolences following news of Brenkus’s death. Randy Scott remembered him on “SportsCenter” as uniquely talented and singularly brilliant at analyzing sports and translating science to generations of fans. Former ESPN fantasy football analyst Matthew Berry described him as the ultimate professional who was kind, encouraging, smart, and inventive.
ESPN paid tribute to Brenkus, describing him as an innovator, entertainer and educator who would be missed by many. The network highlighted his contributions to sports broadcasting through his creative approach to explaining scientific principles through athletic demonstrations and his willingness to participate in potentially dangerous experiments for educational purposes.
Wiley, who had interviewed Brenkus about his mental health struggles, reposted the announcement of his death with “RIP” and prayer and heart emojis. The former NFL player had provided Brenkus a platform to discuss his depression and recovery, making the loss particularly poignant for those who had witnessed his openness about mental health challenges.
Multiple news organizations included crisis resources in their coverage, directing readers to call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support available 24 hours a day. The International Association for Suicide Prevention provides worldwide resources for those outside the United States.
