Grayson McCall, once the star quarterback of NC State, hangs up his cleats due to medical advice following his latest concussion, declaring it an injury he can't tackle again—though coaching is still on his playbook.

After facing two concussions during the 2024 season—including one spectacularly timed fall against Wake Forest—Grayson McCall has officially traded his helmet for a whistle, announcing his retirement from football. With a career boasting over 10,000 passing yards and a lofty touchdown record at Coastal Carolina, McCall leaves the field a legend, although it seems his new job will involve drawing up plays instead of dodging defenders. So while he may be stepping out of the quarterback spotlight, his game-changing strategies are bound to keep him in the football game—at least until he accidentally tries to throw a clipboard.

McCall's first concussion of the 2024 season arrived on a rather uneventful September 14th during a game against Louisiana Tech. The ensuing not-so-funny bone-crunching results left him sidelined for two games, sparking numerous headlines and prompting fans to question if the prevailing trend of injuries was becoming a seasonal sport all its own. Almost as if he had become the poster child for taking a hit, McCall's unfortunate luck continued in a game against Wake Forest on October 5th when he found himself fumbling yet again—this time, with his health.

Returning to the field after those two proverbial strikes, McCall soon realized the odds weren't in his favor. He later admitted that the second concussion was the final nail in the coffin of his football career. 'I can’t come back from this,' he expressed, in one of those poignant moments that remind us that even the toughest quarterbacks have their limits—unlike the number of passing yards he amassed throughout his tenure.

In his closing chapter at NC State, McCall completed the season with 53 passes, 518 yards, and a modest three touchdowns, which, while respectable, couldn't quite match the fireworks of his previous stint. At Coastal Carolina, he threw a staggering 10,005 yards and racked up 88 touchdowns, a feat that conjures images of a quarterback throwing confetti at a championship parade—rather than being unceremoniously tackled by destiny.

Interestingly, his final season at Coastal Carolina was cut short due to another concussion. It seems that McCall's head had more plot twists than a soap opera, forcing him to confront the reality that his football journey might be more about survival than strategy. While the game saw him at his height, it also now marked the limits of what he could sustain physically—almost like realizing that one too many slices of pizza could put you on the injured list of life choices.

Upon announcing his retirement, McCall took a moment to express gratitude for his time in the sport. Whether he was tossing spirals into the end zone or dodging the defensive line, he maintained, 'I have no regrets throughout my career.' This sentiment may resonate with anyone who’s ever faced a tough choice—except perhaps for the poor fans watching him take hit after hit in those last few games.

As his playing days came to a close, McCall didn't plan to vanish from the football field altogether. He expressed a desire to stay involved by pursuing a coaching career. After all, who better to teach the next generation of quarterbacks about the value of avoiding collisions than someone who has effectively mastered the art of avoiding head trauma? One shudders to think of all the clipboard drills he’ll have to design—all in the name of minimizing impact, of course.

Now, as McCall trades his pads for coaching shoes, we can only applaud his spirit for the game and hope that his future is filled with mentorship, strategy sessions, and the occasional hot dog at the sidelines. In the end, while he faced health issues that led to his retirement, he certainly has a new perspective on the field—and perhaps, a few secret plays up his sleeve to share with his future athletes.