John Brenkus, the TV producer and host of the Emmy-winning ESPN series Sports Science, died May 31, his family confirmed. He was 53.
The family, in a statement on the homepage of Brinkus’ Brinx.tv, said he had been battling depression, confirming that “John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31, 2025.”
They added: “His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.”
Brenkus co-founded the production company Base Productions and was co-creator and host of Sports Science, which aired for two seasons on Fox Sports Network beginning in 2007 before shifting to ESPN.
The series, which used science and data to dissect the inner workings of athletes and their sports, was nominated for several Sports Emmys, winning in 2008 for Outstanding Graphic Design and in 2009 for Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming and repeating for Graphic Design.
Brenkus expanded the topic to a book, 2010’s The Perfection Point: Sport Science Predicts the Fastest Man, the Highest Jump, and the Limits of Athletic Performance. He was also a public speaker.
He later would sell Sports Science to ESPN, and told Marcellus Wiley on a 2013 episode of the interview series Never Shut Up that he “spiraled into a deep, deep depression” afterward and almost went through with an attempt to take his own life.
In addition to Sports Science, Base Productions, founded by Brenkus and Marty Stern, has a list of credits that include the unscripted TV series Alaska Marshals, Haunted Highway, Natural Medicine Saved My Life, Do or Die and more.
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Several media figures paid tribute to Brenkus after news of his death broke including Wiley and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“This is incredibly sad,” Schefter wrote on X. “John was so good at what he did. Sincerest condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, John.”
If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
