Jack Tuttle, Michigan’s football quarterback, has declared his retirement from the sport.
The seventh-year quarterback announced on social media Monday night that he had played his final game after suffering his fifth concussion. He thanked his teammates and coaches for their support and told the Maize and Blue supporters that he would not be moving far.
“Today, I announce my retirement from college football. This painful decision was made after much thought and meaningful conversations with my family, doctors, and loved ones,” the post reads in part. “I want to thank Coach Moore, the staff, and my teammates; I adore all of you. I will continue to assist Team 145 as we plan for the remainder of the season.
“Although finishing this chapter is terrible, my love of football will always be a part of me. I am committed to finding a new role in the game, and I intend to pursue a coaching position.”
Tuttle appeared in seven games for the Wolverines over two seasons, completing 45 of 67 passes for 436 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Tuttle’s injury history is known, but it may not be as thorough as Tuttle’s post suggests. Tuttle, a four-star recruit in the 2018 class, was listed as “out” on Michigan’s availability report for Saturday’s 24-17 victory against Michigan State despite having played in the previous two games.
That comes after he spent nearly the entire offseason recovering from an ulnar collateral ligament injury that rendered him ineffective in the quarterback competition, which Davis Warren initially won.
Nonetheless, Tuttle worked his way back, and after Warren was benched for turnovers and Alex Orji was removed for inefficiency, head coach Sherrone Moore resorted to Tuttle as a replacement in a 27-17 loss against Washington.
Doctors had just cleared him to practice the week before, and he had only lately resumed tossing footballs. Tuttle mentioned in his retirement post that it was due to injuries: not only did he not fully recover from his arm injury, but he also got another concussion.
“This past year has been challenging, marked by a UCL repair in my throwing arm that I didn’t fully recover from, which has caused ongoing issues,” said the pitcher. “And, sadly, the recent experience of suffering my fifth concussion has revealed the painful truth: I need to begin prioritizing my health.
“Throughout my college career, I’ve battled numerous injuries, culminating in this difficult choice to step away from playing the game that I love.”
Tuttle committed to Utah out of high school but quickly transferred to Indiana following his freshman year. He served four years as a professional backup, primarily following Michael Penix Jr. Despite starting five games in Bloomington, he was never referred to as “the guy.”
He transferred to Ann Arbor for a sixth season in 2023, knowing he would be J.J. McCarthy’s backup. Not only did he win a national title, but he was also cleared for a seventh year owing to medical redshirts, so he returned to Michigan to compete for the job, which he never got due to UCL surgery.
He finished his career completing 149 of 249 passes (59.8%) for 1,337 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also has 118 rushing yards in 20 games played.
