By Mallory Mattingly
Former LSU wide receiver Jack Bech and his family are trusting God following the death of his older brother, Martin “Tiger” Bech, who was among the victims of the New Orleans terrorist attack on Jan. 1, 2025.
At first, Jack and his family weren’t sure if Tiger was alive or not because they couldn’t find him.
“I checked my brother’s location [on his phone] and his phone was just sitting on Bourbon Street, so he either took off and his phone fell out or something bad happened to him,” Jack explained on “The Pivot” podcast.
It wasn’t until three and a half hours later that Jack and his family finally got an update on Tiger.
“We had called like every hospital within the whole area, like 10 different hospitals. Just giving them the description of my brother, ‘Please call us back if y’all find somebody,'” Jack recalled. “A hospital called us and they told us that they had somebody that description, and my dad was in the New Orleans area just waiting for that call. So, they brought him in, and they’re like, ‘You can’t see him right now, he’s in ICU getting surgery.'”
Jack’s father was able to confirm that it was Tiger by the watch a doctor brought out to him.
Unfortunately, he didn’t make it out of surgery.
Two days later, Jack broke the silence on his Instagram and posted a heartfelt letter to his brother.
“My Best Friend. My World. My Big Brother. You did it, you made it to Heaven. You told me yesterday morning that’s where you were. I couldn’t be happier to know you’re in a city of Gold with Poppa,” Jack wrote on Instagram. “If there was any doubt about God, about Heaven, about our Savior Jesus Christ, there is none now. Heaven is for real, God is for real, and you are with him now.
“You always wanted to be first, now you’re the first one to make it home,” he continued. “I will think about you every day and be the rock for this family, I promise you. I can’t wait to show you the big things I will do in this world, to tell my kids all about you and the man you shaped me to be, all in your name, with you right there by my side, being my Guardian Angel in every moment till the end of time. I love you forever ❤️.”
Now, as a second-round draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, a moment he calls “one of the best…ever,” Jack will continue to honor his brother.
He told College GameDay that “it’s a two-for-one deal.”
“I’m going to make sure everybody in this world knows Tiger’s name.”
On the day Jack Bech heard his name called in the NFL Draft, he spoke about carrying on the legacy of his brother, Tiger Bech, who was killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve. pic.twitter.com/DBNlqdfotr
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) April 26, 2025
“Not only do they get me, they get Tiger, too,” Jack said. “It’s a dream come true. Everybody in this room, and the people I love most, people who got me here, I can’t wait to put on for Raider Nation.”
Continue to pray for Jack and the entire Bech family as they mourn Tiger’s death while also celebrating Jack’s new NFL position.
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