Fueled by grief, Jack Bech’s NFL pursuit is more than just a job; it’s a passion ignited by loss. This TCU receiver brings more than just good numbers; he plays with real guts and a bit of swagger. After his older brother, Tiger Bech (a former Princeton football player), passed away in the devastating New Orleans truck attack on New Year’s Day, which tragically took 14 lives, Bech has transformed his game into a deeply personal tribute. He carried his sadness in every catch, block, and practice. With Tiger’s memory inked on his skin and constantly in his mind, Bech hit the field with a purpose. And it’s finally paid off.

The Las Vegas Raiders picked wide receiver Jack Bech, number 58 overall, in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season at TCU, Bech was the main guy, catching 62 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s from Lafayette, Louisiana, and he moved to TCU in 2023 after starting out at LSU.

Jack honored his brother in every way, even switching his number from 18 to 7 for the Senior Bowl. “Everything I’m doing out here is just all for him and in memory of him.” Winning the Senior Bowl MVP, especially with that game-winning touchdown, meant a lot; Tiger’s one dream he didn’t get to see was playing in the NFL.

Now, Jack Bech is keeping that going, making sure everyone remembers Tiger Bech. But on his big day, thinking about his brother got him choked up when he talked to Rece Davis. “Best moments ever, you know, like I’ve been saying. Now, it’s a two-for-one view; not only do they get me, they get Tiger too,” Jack said. “It’s a dream come true. You know, everybody in this room, when people I love most people who got me here. No, I came with put on for Raider Nation.”

On the day Jack Bech heard his name called in the NFL Draft, he talked about carrying on his brother, Tiger Bech’s, legacy. He made it clear, “I’m going to make sure everybody in this world knows Tiger’s name.”

Despite going through a ton of emotions, Jack Bech and his family never shy away from talking about Tiger Bech. Whether it’s about the tragedy or mentioning his football excellence, Jack and his family always kept his name alive. But why? “I knew one thing. Whenever he passed away, he told me one thing: for me to get ready, to keep on going, to keep pushing. He’s brought me to new heights,” Jack said. “He’s taking me places I didn’t know I could go just with dedication and willingness to just go out and work. You know, whenever, you know, late night, early mornings. He’s gonna keep bringing me further and further and I dedicate more career to him.”

And it’s not just words; Jack Bech really does what he says. He is going to wear Tiger’s busted-up, cracked, bloodstained Rolex watch to honor him. It was a special gift from his dad when Tiger finished college. “I’m never going to fix it. I’m keeping it just the way it is. Like every time I look back at it, just knowing, you know, he died in this watch. It was around his wrist when he got hit. It’s just another one of those reminders to keep on pressing,” Jack said. You can just imagine how much he loved him. But now that he’s making this huge move in his career, Jack Bech is also making sure he lives up to what the Raiders and Tom Brady expect.

Jack Bech’s bold message to the Raiders

Jack Bech is coming after the Raiders got Boise State’s running back, Ashton Jeanty, on Thursday. Bech is Vegas’s second pick, joining Jeanty in what looks like a quick redo of the offense with the new head coach Pete Carroll, GM John Spytek, and part-owner Tom Brady.

Now, Jack Bech is joining a team with a lot of chances, and they probably expect him to play early because he’s strong and can catch, which goes well with Jeanty’s fast running. With these two rookies, the Raiders can start building a new offense—one that’s tough, talented, and can change things up. After a rough 4-13 season, the Raiders started a big project to rebuild the team. Plus, the Raiders need more good receivers since they don’t have much after Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. So, Jack Bech could make a difference right away.

And get this: Jack Bech made sure everyone knows what he can do. When Rece Davis asked him what he brings to the team, he said, “They’re about to get a dog. Might come in there, you know, I’m about to help lead. You know, we’re gonna go win a bunch of games. You know, I just can’t wait.” That’s not just being confident; that’s a clear message to Tom Brady. “They’re gonna get somebody who’s accountable, you know, somebody’s gonna come in there who’s gonna work hard each and every day to perfect his craft. Was gonna put the team first. And like I said, for the greater goal of the team, to go help, you know, win games with Super Bowls.”

Even NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein is kind of calling dibs on what Jack’s gameplay is like: “Competitive inside or outside target who stands out as a box-checker in several important columns. Bech can be slowed in press and might not have much separation speed, but he’s a big, strong receiver with outstanding ball skills. He’s physical at the top of the route and has a rebounder’s feel for owning catch space once he gains top positioning. His hands are sticky and strong with elite catch focus from any spot on the field. He’s fearless and physical as a runner but needs more nastiness as a run blocker.” Now that Jack’s a Raider, let’s see if he can actually make all this talk a reality.