Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle announced his retirement from football on Monday. A few days later, his teammates and coaches reacted to the news:
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday evening, Michigan Wolverines quarterback Jack Tuttle announced his retirement from football, citing health concerns after sustaining his fifth concussion.
— Jack Tuttle (@jacktuttle14) October 29, 2024
Tuttle was in his second season with the Wolverines. Last year, he was the backup to J.J. McCarthy during Michigan’s 2023 National Championship run. This year, he started two games before calling it a career. He finished his Michigan career 45-of-67 passing for 436 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions across eight games.
Known for his leadership and experience, Tuttle’s retirement left his teammates and coaches reflecting on his impact at Michigan and on college football.
“Jack’s a great guy,” edge Josaiah Stewart said. “Me and him came here to Michigan together, and just him showing me the way, especially about being in a Power Four program for the first time. But I’m glad he’s prioritizing his life.”
Tuttle had been battling a UCL injury that set him back the first four weeks of the season, but he also cited concussions sustained both at Michigan and Indiana. Nonetheless, many on the team were caught off guard by the announcement.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing,” center Greg Crippen said. “No one ever thinks their career is gonna end in football, you never know what it’s gonna be. I commented on Instagram. I also personally texted him right after, telling him I really liked playing with you and really respected him. Doesn’t mean football is over for him exactly, football as a whole, you can do a lot of other things.”
Cornerback Aamir Hall was also stunned by the news.
“It was very surprising,” Hall said. “I didn’t really know so much about what he had going on, but the whole team is there for him and just making sure that the process is very smooth and build him up the whole time. Jack is family. He’s welcomed me in since I got here and so I’m gonna have his back throughout this whole process.”
As a teammate, it is really hard to see one of your peers have to leave the sport they love and worked so hard to get to. It can be isolating, stressful, pain-enduring and heart-breaking. However, if there is anyone at Michigan who knows the stress and decision-making process about medically retiring, it’s offensive line coach Grant Newsome.
As a true freshman left tackle, Newsome suffered a severe leg injury against Wisconsin in 2016, forcing him to medically retire and transition into a student assistant role working with the tight ends while completing a master’s degree. Eight seasons later, Newsome has risen to a position coach role and he hopes to be a resource for Tuttle through this tough time.
“Yeah, I just gave him a couple of quick words and you let him know we’re thinking of him, myself especially,” Newsome said. “I’ve been in that situation and I’ll speak for myself, it’s a tough decision to come to. You’re really kind of balancing a lot of things in your head and it speaks a lot to his maturity and poise to make that kind of decision because it’s not an easy one to make. And obviously, (I have) a ton of respect for him and what he’s done throughout his college career, and especially for us. I just told him anything he needs, obviously, we’re all here for him.”
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine , 12 percent of former college athletes reported sustaining a career-ending injury, and 75 percent of former college athletes said they played with an injury when they should have been removed from play. Tuttle is prioritizing his health (and potentially his life), and he is ensuring he will stay connected to the game in the next chapter of his career.