Barstool Sports Golf Personality Cody ‘Beef’ Franke Dies at 31, Tributes Pour In

Barstool Sports golf personality Cody "Beef" Franke died over the weekend, the media company announced on Monday. He was 31 years old.

Franke became well know on social media over the years for his helpful golf tips that he shared and the audience he grew from that helped him land a job at Barstool Sports, where he became a member of the Fore Play golf brand starting in January of 2025.

Fore Play announced the news in a statement on social media, saying Franke died from a sudden medical issue.

pic.twitter.com/7fLo3oGOAm
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) October 27, 2025

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Barstool's Dan "Big Cat" Katz shared more details on Monday, saying Franke died while he was in the Dominican Republic for a wedding.

The loss of Beef is absolutely devastating

He will be remembered as one of the greatest people to ever be around pic.twitter.com/lWRWiIb9TL
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 27, 2025

Barstool founder and owner Dave Portnoy, as well as many other of Franke's co-workers, shared their tributes to Franke shortly after the news was announced.

Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. It’s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest. #Ripbeef https://t.co/k88o2tnzJB
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 27, 2025

Thinking of Cody’s family today. One of the nicest guys you can come across. He made our brand so much better and we’re going to miss him dearly. https://t.co/6ko52Hq43g
— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) October 27, 2025

Beef made everyone else’s life better. The nicest man I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. Impossible to process this heartbreaking news. https://t.co/o9JnHPKdNu
— Frankie Borrelli (@FrankieBorrelli) October 27, 2025

Devastated. Just devastated. Thinking of his family and anybody who ever had the pleasure of meeting him. https://t.co/VZckYeQVQi
— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) October 27, 2025

I loved Beef. He snuck up on you. His charm and humility and unwavering class were fitting of like some gentleman from the 1800s. Being around him made me see the golf course or the dinner table we were at from a place of gratitude, a "can you believe how lucky we are"…
— Francis (@franciscellis) October 27, 2025

Going to miss you Brother 💔 . Honestly one of the greatest guys I have ever been around. RIP BEEF 🥩 😥😥😥 pic.twitter.com/3UIt8BGV8j
— Jersey Jerry (@Jerrythekid21) October 27, 2025

Beef was honestly the sweetest dude ever. Loved being around him. Dont know what else even to say. He will be missed by so many, and it makes me sad that more people won’t get a chance to know him and love him. RIP buddy https://t.co/G2tRCNCVWh
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) October 27, 2025

Beef was such a nice guy. This is awful. Thinking of his family at home and all the foreplay guys. He was a class act. https://t.co/5s3TR3MVVw
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) October 27, 2025

Beef was the definition of class

We lost a great one. Rest in Peace.pic.twitter.com/LsUCungpH5
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 27, 2025

Beef truly was the nicest guy and I loved hanging out with him.

We bunked at Camp, went to the College World Series, hit Vegas, and I will never forget when he took all the boys to Gibsons to celebrate.

He was always smiling — always the kindest, most generous person. #RIP🥩 pic.twitter.com/WTlWwRvZF8
— Ohio’s Tate (@BarstoolTate) October 27, 2025

Awful news. No matter the event, people rallied around his positive attitude & demeanor.

Immediately thought of this Mini Golf Ryder Cup moment where he got his redemption putt, and @FrankieBorrelli’s celebration.

Guy lived each day with that positive attitude. Rest in peace. https://t.co/fNi7dV69xX pic.twitter.com/4BH8laglS7
— Jeff D. Lowe (@JeffDLowe) October 27, 2025

Fans and people in the golf world also paid tributes.

This is heartbreaking news. Cody was a beloved PGA of America Golf Professional with a beautiful love for golf — and for sharing it with everyone he crossed paths with in this game.

We’re sending love & thinking of his family, friends and the Fore Play crew. https://t.co/DTVbW904kH
— PGA of America (@PGA) October 27, 2025

RIP to a true gentleman in our game. https://t.co/jbvaZpVPhP
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) October 27, 2025

He was such an exceptional dude. Our whole DraftKings team fell in love with Beef after hanging with him just three weeks ago at Pinehurst. He was down to do any content ideas we threw his way. What a genuinely kind soul. Rest easy, king. https://t.co/Vm7jsdtSZg pic.twitter.com/LuFjvycbm1
— Emerson Lotzia, Jr. (@EmersonLotzia) October 27, 2025

Met and had breakfast with beef at the Barstool Classic. Everything you read about the guy is true. Nicest guy ever. The world needs more people like him. RIP https://t.co/BoC24giZly
— Ryan Stephan (@BigSteph23) October 27, 2025

Followed “Cody Franke, head golf professional” since he was a pretty small IG account working at a course making tip Tuesday videos. One of the best. Even through the phone you could tell he was a genuinely good guy. This stinks. RIP https://t.co/Gez1MgCgfy
— Adam (@adamg1224) October 27, 2025

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