John Brenkus, the Emmy Award-winning host and co-creator of ESPN’s “Sport Science,” died on May 31, 2025, following a prolonged battle with depression. He was born in July 1971 and was 53 years old.
The television personality’s death was announced on his social media accounts on June 2, 2025. According to TMZ, citing the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Brenkus died by suicide.
A statement released by Brenkus’s family indicated that he had been battling depression and lost his fight with the illness. The family requested privacy while encouraging anyone struggling with depression to seek help.
Brenkus was the co-founder of Base Productions and founder of Brinx.TV, but gained widespread recognition as the host of “Sport Science.” The show premiered in 2007 on Fox Sports Network before transitioning to ESPN in 2010. The program earned six Emmy Awards during its run from 2007 to 2017.
The show’s concept involved using cutting-edge technology to measure momentum, friction, and the laws of gravity to uncover sports’ biggest myths and mysteries. Brenkus frequently participated in the experiments himself, often putting himself in harm’s way for scientific discovery. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, he served as the show’s “Everyman” to demonstrate what happens when an average person steps into competition with elite athletes.
Brenkus hosted more than 1,800 segments of the popular program. The show examined various athletic phenomena, from analyzing what makes certain athletes exceptionally fast to exploring the physical capabilities required for competitive eating championships. ESPN eventually purchased the brand from Brenkus, who later brought back his show on his own platform in recent years.
The Virginia native was also an accomplished athlete himself, having participated in multiple Ironman Triathlon races. He authored “The Perfection Point,” a New York Times bestseller that calculated the limits of athletic performance. Additionally, he served as executive producer of “Crime 360” in 2008.
Brenkus had been open about his mental health struggles, particularly following the sale of “Sport Science” to ESPN. In a January 2023 interview with former NFL player Marcellus Wiley, he revealed that he had spiraled into what he described as a deep depression while living in Park City, Utah. He disclosed that isolation, cold weather, and various setbacks contributed to his deteriorating mental state.
During that interview, Brenkus revealed he had reached a point where he was contemplating suicide and had tied a noose around his neck. He credited his dog, Zeppelin, with saving his life by tugging on his jeans and pulling him from his suicidal state. “I was flat-out suicidal,” he told Wiley during the 2023 appearance.
Following that incident, Brenkus sought help from multiple mental health professionals. He visited six different psychologists and psychiatrists before finding a doctor in Virginia who helped him find what he described as the right path. At the time of the 2023 interview, Brenkus indicated he had not experienced depression since receiving proper treatment.
Brenkus explained during his conversation with Wiley that depression was not simply about being sad, but rather about negative thought loops that people become trapped in and cannot escape. He described his journey through mental illness as his greatest blessing and victory, having had to march through what he called the valley of darkness.
ESPN colleagues and sports media figures paid tribute to Brenkus following news of his death. Randy Scott remembered his former colleague on “SportsCenter,” describing him as uniquely talented and singularly brilliant at analyzing sports and translating sports science to generations of fans. Matthew Berry, a former ESPN fantasy football analyst, described Brenkus as a kind, encouraging, smart, and inventive professional who remained a friend after their collaboration.
The network described Brenkus as an innovator, entertainer, and educator who would be missed by many. His work on “Sport Science” helped audiences understand their own physiologies and how to improve their overall performance, health, and well-being through scientific demonstration and analysis.