Parker Sutherland Obituary – Cause of Death: Northern Iowa mourn the unexpected loss of freshman athlete at 18

The University of Northern Iowa community is mourning the unexpected death of freshman football player Parker Sutherland. He was 18.

The University of Northern Iowa football program confirmed Saturday, February 14, 2026, that the freshman tight end passed away earlier that day. The university did not release a cause of death. According to a report by the Des Moines Register, no additional details were immediately available.

Head coach Todd Stepsis expressed profound grief in a statement issued by the university.

“I’m heartbroken. No words can express my condolences to Adam, Jill and Georgia,” Stepsis said. “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.”

Stepsis continued, praising Sutherland’s character and impact on the program.

“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,” he said.

Sutherland, a native of Iowa City, appeared in four games during the 2025 season and earned redshirt status. Before joining the Panthers, he was a standout athlete at Iowa City High School, where he earned second-team all-state honors in football as a senior. He also competed in basketball and baseball during his high school career.

UNI Athletics Director Megan Franklin described the loss as devastating for the university’s athletic community.

“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of our Parker Sutherland,” Franklin said. “He embraced the opportunity to play Panther football and represent the University through sport. 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.”

University officials have not announced information regarding memorial services.