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University of Northern Iowa football coach said freshman tight end Parker Sutherland was participating in a routine workout last week when he collapsed, dying two days later.
Sutherland, an Iowa City High School graduate, died Saturday, Feb. 14, just 10 days before his 19th birthday.
Head coach Todd Stepsis said the team was doing a warm-up during their morning workout on Thursday, Feb. 12 when the incident happened.
“We get right through our warm-up in a routine, normal Thursday and he collapsed,” Stepsis said during a news conference Monday, Feb. 16. “… For whatever reason, right after that, that warm up, something happened. We’re not really sure what it was.”
Stepsis, at times choking up as he spoke, said the team had been participating in what he described as a standard “maximum performance” training day, noting players typically have Wednesdays off and return Thursday for a more demanding workout.
He said coaches and staff were immediately at Sutherland’s side and followed their training while medical personnel later provided care.
“We’re crushed,” said Stepsis, holding back tears. “We really are.”
He described Sutherland as “one of one,” telling reporters the team continues to grieve together while also trying to honor him. He plans to work with Sutherland's family to find a way to honor him, possibly on team jerseys, next football season.
“We’re gonna still cry a lot together,” Stepsis said. “He’s one of one, the type of guy you want to build a team with. If I could have 110 Parkers, I would.”
Stepsis said Sutherland had won a team plank competition at the end of a workout two days earlier and recalled his competitiveness and energy around teammates.
“He always had a smile on his face. He always made people feel good about themselves,” said Stepsis, who spoke during UNI's regular Monday press conference with all coaches. Each gave condolences to Sutherland's family and team and deferred questions on their own teams out of respect for the loss.
“He lived with passion," Stepsis said.
Over the weekend, the university declined to release additional details about Sutherland’s death out of respect for his family, but confirmed Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue had been called to a university athletics facility Thursday morning.
A department call log shows responders were dispatched at 7:15 a.m. to the UNI-Dome for an “unconscious/fainting (non trauma)” report. No official medical cause of death has been released or shared so far.
Sutherland, a 6-foot-6, 221-pound tight end who wore jersey No. 89, appeared in four games as a true freshman during the 2025 season.
A native of Iowa City, he played football, basketball and baseball at Iowa City High School and was a two-time all-district and all-conference athlete.
According to his UNI roster page, video games, movies, pickleball and Legos were among his interests.
In a Saturday message to families and staff, City High principal John Bacon wrote that Sutherland “passed away during the night following a medical episode” and called him “one of the best tight ends in school history” and “a true leader at our high school."
According to a preliminary obituary, a celebration of life is Sunday, Feb. 22, at Little Hawk Arena at City High School, with tributes beginning at 2 p.m. and a reception to follow until 5 p.m.
A full obituary is expected to be posted later this week.
Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: UNI football player Parker Sutherland collapsed during workout
Continue reading...
Sutherland, an Iowa City High School graduate, died Saturday, Feb. 14, just 10 days before his 19th birthday.
Head coach Todd Stepsis said the team was doing a warm-up during their morning workout on Thursday, Feb. 12 when the incident happened.
“We get right through our warm-up in a routine, normal Thursday and he collapsed,” Stepsis said during a news conference Monday, Feb. 16. “… For whatever reason, right after that, that warm up, something happened. We’re not really sure what it was.”
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Stepsis, at times choking up as he spoke, said the team had been participating in what he described as a standard “maximum performance” training day, noting players typically have Wednesdays off and return Thursday for a more demanding workout.
He said coaches and staff were immediately at Sutherland’s side and followed their training while medical personnel later provided care.
“We’re crushed,” said Stepsis, holding back tears. “We really are.”
He described Sutherland as “one of one,” telling reporters the team continues to grieve together while also trying to honor him. He plans to work with Sutherland's family to find a way to honor him, possibly on team jerseys, next football season.
“We’re gonna still cry a lot together,” Stepsis said. “He’s one of one, the type of guy you want to build a team with. If I could have 110 Parkers, I would.”
Stepsis said Sutherland had won a team plank competition at the end of a workout two days earlier and recalled his competitiveness and energy around teammates.
“He always had a smile on his face. He always made people feel good about themselves,” said Stepsis, who spoke during UNI's regular Monday press conference with all coaches. Each gave condolences to Sutherland's family and team and deferred questions on their own teams out of respect for the loss.
“He lived with passion," Stepsis said.
Over the weekend, the university declined to release additional details about Sutherland’s death out of respect for his family, but confirmed Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue had been called to a university athletics facility Thursday morning.
A department call log shows responders were dispatched at 7:15 a.m. to the UNI-Dome for an “unconscious/fainting (non trauma)” report. No official medical cause of death has been released or shared so far.
Sutherland, a 6-foot-6, 221-pound tight end who wore jersey No. 89, appeared in four games as a true freshman during the 2025 season.
A native of Iowa City, he played football, basketball and baseball at Iowa City High School and was a two-time all-district and all-conference athlete.
You must be registered for see images attach
According to his UNI roster page, video games, movies, pickleball and Legos were among his interests.
In a Saturday message to families and staff, City High principal John Bacon wrote that Sutherland “passed away during the night following a medical episode” and called him “one of the best tight ends in school history” and “a true leader at our high school."
According to a preliminary obituary, a celebration of life is Sunday, Feb. 22, at Little Hawk Arena at City High School, with tributes beginning at 2 p.m. and a reception to follow until 5 p.m.
A full obituary is expected to be posted later this week.
Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: UNI football player Parker Sutherland collapsed during workout
Continue reading...
