A 51-year-old man died Monday morning after jumping from a ledge inside the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, authorities reported. Police were called to the stadium in Gainesville shortly before 9:50 a.m. after receiving reports of a person on a ledge.
According to the Gainesville Sun, officers attempted to negotiate with the man, who was found on a concrete beam in the stadium's west concourse. The man then fell an estimated 60 to 80 feet, landing near Gate 4.
First responders provided life-saving measures, but the man, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, was pronounced dead at 10:05 a.m. Officials stated that no one else was in the stadium at the time and the incident appeared to be isolated. The man was reportedly not connected to the university and was believed to be homeless.
The incident occurred days before the Florida Gators were scheduled to play their home-opening game of the 2026 season against Florida Atlantic. The team had received 51 votes in the AP preseason Top 25 ranking following a 4-8 record in the 2025 season.
This event follows a similar incident less than a year prior, when Ohio State student William Meyers died after jumping from Ohio Stadium. Meyers, 19, was found near the stadium's northeast corner in September 2025, and his death was ruled a suicide.