Former Princeton football player killed in New Orleans truck attack

Tiger Bech ’21 died on Wednesday morning after sustaining injuries from a vehicle attack in New Orleans. He was 28. 

Bech, a native of Lafayette, La., was a wide receiver and punt returner for the Princeton football team and a member of Cottage Club. He earned an A.B. in Sociology. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he worked as a sales representative at LiveAction for two years before working as a trader at Seaport Global Holdings LLC. 

The attack happened early Wednesday morning after a man drove a pickup truck into New Year’s crowds in New Orleans. At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured. The FBI is currently investigating the attack as an act of terrorism.

Bech earned second-team All-Ivy League honors as a return specialist in two consecutive seasons through his time on the football team. In 2018, he helped Princeton gain the then-highest-scoring offense in Ivy League history, and the team was undefeated in the Ivy League for the first time since 1964. Throughout his career at Princeton, he caught 53 passes for 825 yards.  

“He might be the first ‘Tiger’ to ever play for us, and that nickname kind of described him as a competitor,” Princeton football Head Coach Bob Surace ’90 told ESPN. “He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life.”

Surace also spoke of Bech’s commitment to the team even after graduation. 

“There were two or three times we had career nights, and you could call him with a day’s notice, and he came down and shared his experiences as a young professional with our team,” Surace added.

Jack Bech, a wide receiver for Texas Christian University, addressed his brother’s death on social media.

“Love you always brother! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment,” Jack Bech wrote on X. “I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”

The ‘Prince’ will publish an obituary remembering Tiger in the weeks to come. If you would like to share your memories of Tiger, please reach out to news[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

This article is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Christopher Bao is a head News editor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Princeton, N.J. and typically covers town politics and life.

Victoria Davies is a head News editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Plymouth, U.K. and typically covers University operations.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.