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“Sports Science” founder and host John Brenkus died on Saturday, his family announced on social media on Sunday night.

Brenkus, who won six Emmy Awards for his show that appeared both on ESPN and Fox Sports Net, had been battling depression for years.

“Sports Science” first debuted on Fox Sports Net in 2007, though it moved to ESPN a few years later. The network eventually purchased the brand from Brenkus, who hosted more than 1,800 segments of the popular show.

The show’s concept was a simple one. The goal was largely to explain why or how things in the sports world were possible. Sometimes it was something serious like, “What makes Tyreek Hill the fastest player in the NFL?”

Other times the subject matter was far lighter, like how eating champion Joey Chestnut is physically able to put down as many hot dogs as he is.

Regardless, the episodes were always entertaining whenever they popped up.

Brenkus brought back his show in recent years on his own platform. He had been open about his fight with depression, too, and he shared a story with Marcellus Wiley in 2023 where he said he tried to commit suicide but his dog saved him.

Plenty in the sports media world paid tribute to Brenkus on social media on Sunday night after the announcement.

He was 53 years old (few days away from his 54th birthday)

John also held AMA on Reddit (not on this sub), in the past – link

47 comments

  1. Makes you realize that television is not real life. He always was smiling on TV

  2. Very unfortunate.

    I recently watched a video of his scientific breakdown of Mariano Rivera’s famous cutter. Very entertaining and educational.

    RIP

  4. Rest in peace.

    Always loved that series – personal favorite was when they got Kevin Love in his fat era to box out a sumo wrestler lol.

    Edit: just watched the clip with Marcellus Wiley. Fuck man, it’s brutal to watch him recount this past episode. RIP.

  7. Incredibly sad. He was a constant on ESPN during my childhood. Seemed like such an awesome guy

  8. He had many segments about the NBA, here are some:

    [ Free Throw Line Dunks | Sport Science | ESPN Archives ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSApfw9k4Pg)

    [ How John Wall’s court vision can set him apart in the NBA | Sport Science | ESPN Archives ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JM4UGIUlTk)

    [ Kyrie Irving’s insane quickness | Sport Science | ESPN Archives ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRCksxr7cbM)

    [ The Science Behind The Greek Freak’s Skills | Sport Science | ESPN Archives ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWIq6ymuh7g)

    [ Kevin Love boxes out a sumo wrestler to show rebounding skills (2012) | Sport Science | ESPN Archive ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQw3ydzcDBA)

    [ Jayson Tatum can still dunk in a suit of armor | Sport Science ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9xwxoLcKZs)

    [ Dwight Howard: Superman | Sport Science | ESPN Archives ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVfCaPRgTA4)

    [ The science behind Anthony Edwards’ athleticism | Sport Science | NBA Today ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNZyIgsbVz8)

    [ The science behind Victor Wembanyama’s size & defensive ability | Sport Science ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_HuLsswBPA)

    [ Zach Collins Tries Shooting Against Volleyball Blockers | Sport Science | ESPN ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cG1ek_04cA)

    [ The science of what makes Steph Curry so good | Sport Science | ESPN ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWFKJevEkAU)

    [ Sports Science: Kevin Love ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CROAKxXg-E0)

    [ sport science klay thompson hd – Klay Thompson shooting in the dark](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBca5W6r9aE) – thanks to u/busdriver_321 for the link

    R.I.P legend.

  9. I used to downplay and think otherwise when I was younger and before I had any first hand experiences with mental health but I think the battle with your mental state is harder than any physical hardship you could endure.

  11. Depression is a real bitch. Glad this guy is getting the kind words from people that he deserves.

  12. Damn, RIP

    essential part of my sports-obsessed high school years, when ESPN was still required watching every day. Lots of nostalgia for those sports science segments on Sportscenter.

  13. Rest in peace.

    He made sports science trivia fun for an entire generation of kids that grew up on the golden age of ESPN

  14. Wow that’s heart-wrenching. Sports Science is in that class of media that seems part of the very fabric of sports-internet itself. Sure, sometimes the science was a little loose or exaggerated, but so were plenty of edutainment shows at the time, and it’s mostly endearing in retrospect (a la Discovery Channel or Animal Planet). Ultimately, I’d say most of us have probably watched each of their “greatest hits” segments at least once, and for good reason.

    RIP

  15. Sports Science was to sports what Bill Nye The Science Guy was to science for kids.

    May he Rest In Peace and may his memory be a blessing.

  17. Rest in peace man. I absolutely loved his show. The bringing of the scientific perspective as to how great these athletes truly are compared to the common person.
    Such a loss of a person.

  18. I was watching the May sumo tournament just the other day and all I could think about was Kevin Love.

    Rest easy John. Thanks for all of the memories.

  22. damn rest in peace. used to love that segment as a kid and wondered why it hasn’t been brought back.

  23. R.I.P. I will always remember him for volunteering to get absolutely murdered by Brandon Jacobs for the sake of science.

  25. That is very sad. I don’t know what else to say, but that is too bad.

  27. Damn I really loved this dude and his segments when I was a kid. That is awful. RIP

  30. RJ doing Ant’s doesn’t sound right to me. Should always just be John Brenkus. I feel like this segment should go with him. RIP to a sports legend

  31. As a reminder to everyone here:

    You matter

    You are loved

    You belong here.

    RIP John

  32. Legit one of the best things ESPN ever made. The absolute hype when a Sports Science would pop up on a random episode of Sports Center in unmatched

  38. Damn, I used to teach high school math, and I routinely showed the Steph Curry video to help connect concepts like parabolas and angles to basketball.

    RIP

  39. RIP. FYI June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Remember, no shame in asking for help. Ever.

  40. So sad. A good friend with depression killed himself about a year ago. Show love to everyone because you don’t know what they’re going through. RIP John Brenkus

  41. i’ll never forget jayson tatum dunking while wearing a suit of armor. rip

  42. Man please check on your people. I know we can’t save everyone, but maybe one person. Just heartbreaking

  43. Damn dude what a legend. I used to watch those shows all the time as a kid. Many condolences to his family. RIP John 🙏

  44. Dam. RIP. I loved the segment on Lionel Messi’s goal vs Athletic Bilbao. Fuck man. Depression is a bitch.

  45. Dang that is so sad. Rest in peace to him. I remember watching Sports Science quite often after school.

  47. Him, grant imahara from mythbusters, and stuart scott were some of my fav media hosts when i was a kid watching sportscenter/mythbusters on the weekends. kobe bryant was one of the first players i ever watched when i started watching nba as a kid in 2009. Now theyre all gone, life is short and time flies. RIP. Crazy how much things can change in 15 years

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