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Jack Bech catches walk-off touchdown at Senior Bowl, pays tribute to late brother

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/01/25•

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TCU WR Jack Bech
© Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Jan. 1, 2025, Jack Bech and his family suffered an unfathomable loss. His brother, Tiger, was one of the 14 people killed in the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.

Exactly one month later – Feb. 1, 2025 – Jack, wearing his brother’s number, caught the game-winning pass in the Senior Bowl. He hauled in the reception from Seth Henigan to give the American team a walk-off victory over the National team and win the Senior Bowl MVP award.

The American team trailed by double-digits at one point, but fought all the way back. They then got deep into the red zone before Henigan connected to Bech from the 2-yard line. That sealed the victory, and Bech’s emotions flowed postgame.

Tiger Bech’s presence was felt throughout the Senior Bowl. Each player had a decal on his helmet honoring the former Princeton star, who was among those killed when a pickup truck ran through Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

A month later, Jack Bech was the hero for the American team. But he knew who to credit for that final sequence.

“It’s simple. My brother has some wings on me,” Bech told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero in a postgame interview. “He gave them to me. He let that all take place. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Tiger – nothing else but them. They’re the reason I did what I did today. I attribute it all to them. I’m just a physical person here doing it, but I attribute it all to them.”

Bech finished his day with six receptions for 68 yards and that game-winning touchdown pass. He put together a huge week in practice ahead of the Senior Bowl, as well, as he looked to improve his draft stock.

It’s safe to say, he did just that. As he did, he knows Tiger was there with him every step in some way, shape or form.

“It’s been surreal, just to be able to come and take place in this game,” Bech said. “It’s a goal you set for yourself. But if I had the option that if I came here, had the worst week ever, ruined my draft stock. If that means I could give my brother a hug right now, I would take that.

“On the flip side of that, I don’t think I could’ve had the week that I had if all that wouldn’t have happened. Like I said, his wings were on my side and him and Jesus Christ are the reasons I was able to do all of this.”

As Jack Bech gets ready to continue on in the pre-draft process, he’ll continue to honor his brother’s memory. The NFL Scouting Combine is the next major stop on the road to Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft, and Bech knows someone will be watching over him along the way.

“All a big brother does in life is want to see his little brother succeed,” he said. “He’s been my role model my whole life, the person I looked up to, the person I wanted to be. He was the best big brother I could ever ask for. My whole goal the rest of my life is just [to] live his legacy.”