John Brenkus, one of the founders and former host of Fox Sports and ESPN television series Sports Science, has died, his family announced on social media. In a statement posted on his Instagram account, they further added that Brenkus had a long battle with depression. He was 54 years old.

John Brenkus died on Saturday, his family announced on social media (X)

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“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away. John, co-founder of Base Productions, founder of Brinx.TV, and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy Award-winning Sports Science, had been battling depression. John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025,” the statement read.

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“His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help,” it further added.

Cause of Death

The statement posted on Brenkus’s social media accounts did not mention the exact cause of death. There are no indications of physical health issues, accidents, or foul play contributing to his death.

Depression and mental health struggles

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{{^usCountry}} Brenkus was open about his battle with depression, particularly in a January 2023 interview with Marcellus Wiley on Brinx.TVs Never Shut Up. He revealed spiraling into a “deep, deep depression” after selling Sport Science to ESPN in 2010, feeling “mentally lost” and becoming “flat-out suicidal.” {{/usCountry}}

{{#usCountry}} Brenkus was open about his battle with depression, particularly in a January 2023 interview with Marcellus Wiley on Brinx.TVs Never Shut Up. He revealed spiraling into a “deep, deep depression” after selling Sport Science to ESPN in 2010, feeling “mentally lost” and becoming “flat-out suicidal.” {{/usCountry}}

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{{^usCountry}} His dog intervened during a suicide attempt, prompting him to call his mother for help. This experience led him to seek treatment from multiple psychologists and psychiatrists. {{/usCountry}}

{{#usCountry}} His dog intervened during a suicide attempt, prompting him to call his mother for help. This experience led him to seek treatment from multiple psychologists and psychiatrists. {{/usCountry}}

{{^usCountry}} Despite his advocacy for mental health, Brenkus’s depression persisted. He continued to discuss his struggles publicly, aiming to destigmatize mental illness, especially for men in high-pressure fields like sports media. Who was John Brenkus? {{/usCountry}}

{{#usCountry}} Despite his advocacy for mental health, Brenkus’s depression persisted. He continued to discuss his struggles publicly, aiming to destigmatize mental illness, especially for men in high-pressure fields like sports media. Who was John Brenkus? {{/usCountry}}

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Born in 1971 in Vienna, Virginia, Brenkus co-founded BASE Productions and created Sport Science, which debuted on Fox Sports Net in 2007 and moved to ESPN in 2010. The show, earning six Sports Emmy Awards, analyzed athletic feats through science, hosting over 1,800 segments with stars like Drew Brees. In 2013, he founded Brinx.TV, producing shows like The Goat Code, described as ‘Sport Science on steroids’.

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John Brenkus, the creator and host of the Emmy-winning show “Sport Science” and founder of production companies BASE and Brinx.TV, died Saturday at age 54 after battling depression, according to a post on his Facebook account.

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A social media announcement on Sunday night confirmed his death and revealed his struggle with mental health. “He had been battling depression and lost his fight with this terrible illness,” the post stated, urging those struggling with depression to seek help.

Brenkus had previously discussed his mental health challenges openly. Back in January 2023, he revealed to Marcellus Wiley, his partner at Brinx.TV, that he had attempted suicide before being saved by his dog.

“Sport Science,” which launched in 2007 on Fox Sports Net before moving to ESPN for its third season, explored the science and mathematics behind athletic achievements and performances. The show featured Brenkus as host, who also participated in various athletic tests during episodes. Brenkus hosted more than 1,800 segments of the popular show. Brenkus later brought back his show in recent years on his own platform.

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The program achieved significant success, winning multiple Emmy awards, including “Outstanding Graphic Design” in 2008 and “Outstanding New Approaches in Sports Programming” in 2009.

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Brenkus was an accomplished producer and director who co-founded BASE productions and later established Brinx.TV, companies specializing in reality television content.

Following the announcement of his death, numerous figures in the sports industry paid tribute to Brenkus and his contributions through the influential “Sport Science” show.

John Brenkus, the creator and host of the Emmy Award-winning Sport Science, passed away on May 31, 2025, at the age of 54. His family announced his death through his official social media accounts, requesting privacy during this difficult time.

The cause of his death was complications from a long battle with depression, a struggle Brenkus openly shared in the past. In a 2023 interview with Marcellus Wiley, he revealed his previous suicide attempt and spoke about how his dog played a vital role in helping him through his darkest moments.

John Brenkus was beloved for his unique ability to make sports science entertaining and accessible to fans around the world. Following his passing, the sports and media communities came together to honor his legacy, reflecting on the impact he made both professionally and personally.

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If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis, help is available. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7. Those looking to learn more about the hotline can click here for more information. The previous hotline (1-800-273-8255) is still available for those who still remember the old number.

LOS ANGELES – John Brenkus, a TV producer who was known for hosting the show, Sports Science, has died at 54.

What we know:

An announcement was posted on Brenkus’ social media page saying he had been battling depression. Brenkus died on Saturday, May 31, his account’s statement read.

The backstory:

Sports Science ran for three seasons in the late 2000s: two with FOX Sports Networks and one with ESPN.

Sports Science featured professional athletes in its episodes to showcase how far these stars can test human limits. The program also occasionally pitted Brenkus himself to showcase what sets these athletes apart from regular fans.

Brenkus’ show ended up getting nine Sports Emmy nominations, winning at least two, in the late 2010s.

Breankus also co-founded Base Productions and Brinx.TV, according to his social media account.

John Brenkus, the co-creator and former host of the FOX Sports Net and ESPN television series Sports Science, has died at the age of 54 following a long battle with depression, according to a statement shared on his official social media accounts Sunday (June 1).

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away,” the statement reads. “John, co-founder of Base Productions, founder of Brinx.TV, and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy Award-winning Sports Science, had been battling depression. John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025.

“His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.