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Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek has announced his medical retirement from football, he said via social media. He suffered a neck injury in 2025 and is hanging up his cleats after speaking with doctors.
Vokolek went down with the injury during an October game against the Indianapolis Colts. He left the game on a stretcher after hurting his neck and suffering a concussion on a touchback, which sent him to injured reserve.
Amid his recovery, Vokolek said Wednesday he spoke with multiple doctors and neurologists about his football future. They ultimately advised him to retire, ending his brief three-year NFL career after his time at Nebraska.
“I am extremely grateful and blessed to have been able to live out my childhood dream of playing football at the highest level for the past three years,” Vokolek wrote. “Football has taught me many life lessons and given me unforgettable memories.
“I am forever grateful to all my teammates, coaches, trainers, and others who have supported my family along the way. … I have attacked everyday of being a professional football player with passion, determination, and discipline. I can say that I truly left everything out on the field.”
More on Travis Vokolek
Travis Vokolek went undrafted after the 2023 NFL Draft but quickly latched on with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad that year. He then joined the Cardinals, where he joined the initial 53-man roster in 2024. In 2025, he played five games for the franchise and made one start, largely on special teams.
During the Week 6 matchup against the Colts, Vokolek collided with Segun Olubi. That led to the season-ending injury, which landed him on injured reserve. Vokolek was later transported to a local hospital in Indianapolis after leaving the game via a stretcher with both arms strapped down, but was cleared to fly back to Arizona with the Cardinals, ESPN reported at the time.
Prior to his brief NFL career, Vokolek played five years of college football. He began his career at Rutgers from 2017-18 before transferring to Nebraska from 2020-22. He then became a captain with the Cornhuskers and put together a career season in 2022 with 20 receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
All told, Vokolek had 57 receptions for 656 yards and four touchdowns at the college level. That includes 40 catches for 458 yards in his three seasons at Nebraska.
