Jack Bech lived out one of his dreams on Friday night and made sure his older brother, Martin “Tiger” Bech, was right there with him.
Three months after Tiger was killed in the New Orleans attack that left 15 dead on New Year’s Day, Jack, 22, paid tribute to him when he was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 58th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Getting the call from the Raiders was «one of the best moments ever,» Jack told College Game Day, but got emotional as he explained that «it’s a two-for-one deal.»
«Not only do they get me, they get Tiger too,» he said. «It’s a dream come true. Everybody in this room, and the people I love most, people who got me here, I can’t wait to put on for Raider Nation.»
Tiger was 27 at the time of his death, per his obituary. Like his younger brother, he was also a star athlete, playing football at Princeton University. According to the school’s website, he was a member of the 2016 and 2018 Ivy League Championship teams. He also earned two All-Ivy honors.
Following his graduation, he worked as a trader at Seaport Global, a New York City capital markets firm, his mother, Michelle, told ABC News.
Icon Sportswire via AP Images
Jack said that his brother’s death still motivates him to work harder to this day.
«He’d tell me one thing, for me to get ready, to keep on going. To keep pushing. He’s brought me to new heights. He’s brought me places I didn’t know I could go, just with dedication and willingness to just go out and work,» said Jack.
«You know, whenever you know, late night, early mornings, he’s going to keep bringing me further and further and further,» he continued. «And I dedicate my whole career to him.”
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
The new NFL signee stated that he and his family want to «keep living his legacy.»
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
«We want everybody and more to know about them. You know, that’s one thing that we promised — one thing that I promise is that I’m never going to let his name die. I’m going to keep living it every day, every year, every month. I’m going to make sure that everybody in this world knows Tiger’s name.»
