NC State QB Grayson McCall, former star at Coastal Carolina, is retiring from football

NC State quarterback Grayson McCall announced his retirement from football on Wednesday due to concussion issues.

“As you all know, I have struggled with injuries throughout my career, but I am not coming back from this injury,” McCall said in an Instagram post. “I did everything I could to keep going, but the good Lord called me here to serve in another place. Brain specialists, my family and I have concluded that it is in my best interest to hang up the boots.”

McCall hasn't played since Oct. 5 against Wake Forest, when he took a severe hit, was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. McCall also battled concussion issues as Coastal Carolina's quarterback from 2019 to 2023.

He led Coastal to 31 wins from 2020 to 2022, including an 11-1 record and a top-15 finish in 2020, and earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors three times. McCall set the FBS record for passing efficiency in 2021, a mark broken last year by Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

McCall said this offseason that he considered retiring from football because of a concussion, but wanted to finish his college career and make an impact at NC State. He wrote on Wednesday that he hopes to move into coaching.

“While I feel like my entire world is being taken away from me, I feel a certain sense of contentment,” he wrote. “Every time my feet touched the grass, I left every single ounce of me on the field. I always tried my best and did my best because I never knew what play would be my last. I have no regrets throughout my career and I can be proud of that. I would like to use this time to show my appreciation to everyone who was there.

“I would like to thank my family, friends, teammates, fans and all the coaches who have supported me over the years from the bottom of my heart. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible.”

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(Photo: Nicholas Faulkner / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)