Former Princeton football player Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech was one of at least 15 people killed when an attacker drove a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ French Quarters during the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Bech, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, graduated from Princeton in 2021 and was working as a stockbroker in New York City and was visiting New Orleans for the holidays when he was reportedly killed while returning to his hotel with a friend. According to his sister, Bech died from internal injuries, including head trauma, several hours after the attack.
Bech played football at the Ivy League school from 2017 to 2019. His younger brother, Jack Bech, currently plays for the TCU Horned Frogs and confirmed on X that his brother was one of the victims.
‘Love you always brother!’ Jack Bech wrote. ‘You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.’
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for Bech’s funeral and to cover the medical expenses of his friend, Ryan Quigley, who was with him during the attack. So far, it has raised over $75,000.
Who is Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech?
Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech was born on January 28, 1997, and his family has deep football roots. Bech’s two uncles played football at Louisiana State University.
Bech played college football at Princeton from 2017 to 2019, where he was a receiver and kick returner. During his time at the Ivy League, he recorded 53 receptions for 825 yards and scored three touchdowns. Additionally, Bech earned two All-Ivy honors for his performance as a return specialist.
‘There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached,’ Princeton football coach Bob Surace said in an announcement. ‘He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way – a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he was having after graduation. My love goes to the entire Bech family.’
Jack Bech, the younger brother of Bech, played wide receiver for the TCU Horned Frogs and recorded 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions in the 2024 season. He has since declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.