Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek's NFL career came to an end on a kickoff in Indianapolis last October. Nine months later, he made it official.

He announced his medical retirement on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing the news after months of consultations with doctors.

"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, per his Instagram.

The injury happened in Week 6 during the Cardinals' loss to the Colts in October; Vokolek collided with Colts linebacker Segun Olubi while blocking on a kickoff. He fell and stayed motionless on the turf.

Medical staff stabilized his head and neck before he was stretchered off and transported to a local hospital in Indianapolis with both arms strapped down.

He was cleared to fly back to Arizona with the team that night but was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. He spent the following months going in and out of medical appointments before the verdict came back.

Vokolek grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and built his college career across two programs. Rutgers was where it started, from 2017 to 2018. Then he moved to Nebraska and played there through 2022.

Nobody called his name on draft day in 2023. The Ravens signed him, and he spent most of that season on the practice squad.

Arizona came calling late in the year, and he made the most of it, earning a spot on the Cardinals' 53-man roster in both 2024 and 2025. Then the injury came and ended everything.

"I have attacked every day of being a professional football player with passion, determination, and discipline. I can say that I truly left everything out on the field," Vokolek said, per his Instagram.

He closed his post expressing confidence that he gave the sport everything and left no regrets.

Vokolek’s Nebraska career ended with a team captain role after a long road through the portal

Vokolek arrived at Nebraska in 2020 after two seasons at Rutgers, according to On3. The transfer didn't immediately unlock a big role. It took patience and time within the Cornhuskers program before he worked his way into a starting spot and eventually the captaincy.

His 2022 season as a senior was the one that got him on NFL radars. Twenty receptions for 240 yards, two touchdowns, and enough physicality as a blocker that Arizona kept him on their active roster for two full years after signing him.

Vokolek thanked teammates, coaches, the training staff, and others, including his wife, Ann Marie, for her constant support.

He finished his college career with 57 total catches for 656 yards and four touchdowns. At 28, Vokolek ends his career with eight NFL games played.

Do you think he made the right choice?

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi