LAFAYETTE, La. — Like so many college football standouts, Jack Bech will be watching and waiting this weekend, hoping to hear his name called at the 2025 NFL draft.
The TCU wide receiver will be tuning in from his high school in Lafayette, Louisiana, surrounded by family and friends. But his biggest fan will be missing.
Follow along for live coverage of Round 1 of the NFL draft.
On New Year’s Day, a terrorist barreled down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Jack’s big brother, Martin “Tiger” Bech, was one of 14 people killed in the attack.
“I always believe that God has a greater plan, no matter if you see it working or not,” Jack Bech told NBC News on Thursday ahead of the draft.
“I definitely know that he is in a better place, and that he’s going to be here 100% with us.”
Growing up, the Bech brothers shared a love of football.
“He scored a touchdown right here in the end zone,” Jack Bech recalled from the field at St. Thomas More High School.
Tiger Bech would go onto become a standout at Princeton before starting a career on Wall Street.
Despite the distance, last fall he flew from New York to Texas for every one of his little brother’s home games, according to Jack Bech.
“It was awesome. He was literally going broke. I mean, he was in debt for coming to all my games,” Jack Bech said.
They dreamed together about Jack going pro.
“They meant everything to each other,” according to their father, Martin Bech.
Weeks after the Bourbon Street attack, Jack Bech closed out his college career with a game-winning touchdown; he was named Senior Bowl MVP.
If that weren’t enough to draw interest from an NFL franchise, Jack Bech will tell you drafting him is a steal.
“Two-for-one special … You’re not only getting me, you’re getting Tiger too,” he said, adding: “I feel like I have another person in me pushing me and taking me to those levels.”
Their mother, Michelle Bech, said, “Tiger was always known for his fearlessness, and I believe that Jack has now fully embraced that idea of fearlessness.”
And so the Bech family, with the sports world watching, heads into the NFL draft weekend feeling “mixed emotions” that include “overriding joy,” according to Martin Bech.
With Jack expected to hear his name called in the second round on Day 2 of the draft, he believes his big brother will still be right there.
“And now he just has the best seat in the house. … He always wanted to be with me. So now he gets to be with me, just in a different way.”
