NFL tight end forced into abrupt retirement aged 28 after career-ending neck injury

Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek has retired from the NFL following a neck injury sustained in a game last October.

Vokolek, now 28, was injured during ‌a touchback in the first quarter of a 31-27 loss against the Indianapolis Colts on October 12, 2025.

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He fell ​awkwardly to the turf and remained motionless for some time after a collision with linebacker Segun Olubi.

Vokolek’s head and neck area were stablilized by medical personnel ​on the field, before he was placed on ⁠a stretcher and transported to an Indianapolis hospital.

He ​was later cleared to fly home with the Cardinals.

Arizona placed him on ​injured reserve for the rest of the season, and Vokolek on Wednesday confirmed that was the last play of his NFL career.

His retirement follows former Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers star Levi Wallace, who walked away last week.

Superstar wideout Tyreek Hill also faces an uncertain future in the league, having suffered a devastating injury last season too.

Cardinals tight end retires after suffering neck injury

“After numerous visits with doctors and neurologists over the past couple of months, I have been advised to medically retire from the NFL due to a serious neck injury that I suffered this past season,” Vokolek wrote in a statement on Instagram.

“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.

“Football has taught me many life lessons and given me unforgettable memories.”

Vokolek played 45 snaps on special teams and 32 ​snaps on offense ​in five games before going down in Week 6 of the 2025 season.

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He entered the NFL undrafted, following a college career at Rutgers (2017–2018) and Nebraska (2019–2022).

Vokolek was initially signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, before he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad in August.

Three months later, come December, he was signed by Arizona as a replacement for the injured Geoff Swaim.

In 2024, Vokolek made the team’s initial 53-man roster as the fourth-string tight end behind Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins and Tip Reiman.

He reprised his role last year, but had no catches in eight career games with the Cardinals after making his debut ​in 2023.

Vokolek ​thanked ⁠teammates, coaches, training staff and others, including wife Ann Marie, for their unwavering support during his NFL career, which has now been cut short.

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“I am forever grateful to all my teammates, coaches, trainers, and others who have supported my family and I along the way,” his statement read.

“A sincere thank you to the Arizona Cardinals training staff for being first class with the care and support they provided my family and I during this hard time.

“I am especially grateful for my wife who has been there the whole time through the many ups and downs of the NFL.

“She has never wavered and has been extremely supportive through it all.

“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. Thank you for all of the love and support. Lastly, thank you football!”

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