Northern Iowa TE Parker Sutherland dies at 18

Freshman appeared in four games for the Panthers in 2025

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Northern Iowa freshman tight end Parker Sutherland died on Saturday morning at the age of 18. The cause of death was not released, though the university confirmed that Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue had responded to an athletic facility on Thursday for a report of a non-traumatic unconscious or fainting person.

Why it matters

The death of a young student-athlete is always a tragic event that shakes a university community. Sutherland was a promising player who had just begun his college football career, and his passing will be deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, and the broader UNI community.

The details

Sutherland, an Iowa City native, appeared in four games for the UNI Panthers during the 2025 season. He was a second-team all-state selection as a senior at Iowa City High School in 2024 and also played basketball and baseball.

  • On Thursday, Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a non-traumatic unconscious or fainting person at the UNI Dome at 7:15 a.m.
  • Sutherland passed away on Saturday morning.

The players

Parker Sutherland

An 18-year-old freshman tight end for the Northern Iowa Panthers football team.

Todd Stepsis

The head coach of the Northern Iowa Panthers football team.

Megan Franklin

The athletics director at the University of Northern Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“I'm heartbroken. No words can express my condolences to Adam, Jill and Georgia (his parents and sister). Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI football Panther. His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was. His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of. While I'm saddened that our time together was short, we will celebrate the bright light that he brought to our football team for the rest of our lives.”

— Todd Stepsis, Head Coach, Northern Iowa Panthers (cbssports.com)

“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of our Parker Sutherland. 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.”

— Megan Franklin, Athletics Director, University of Northern Iowa (cbssports.com)

What’s next

UNI is scheduled to start the 2026 season at Eastern Washington on Sept. 5.

The takeaway

The tragic and untimely death of a young student-athlete like Parker Sutherland is a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. The UNI community will undoubtedly rally around the Sutherland family and the football team as they grieve this profound loss.