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Ex-Arizona Cardinals TE Travis Vokolek retires at age 28
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- Ex-Arizona Cardinals TE Travis Vokolek retires at age 28
Former Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek announced his retirement from the NFL due to a neck injury he suffered during a game last season.
Vokolek, 28, was injured Oct. 12 while blocking during a kickoff return against the Indianapolis Colts . He was pushed by Colts linebacker Segun Olubi and landed awkwardly. Vokolek was immobilized on a stretcher, carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital.
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He announced his retirement on an Instagram post on Wednesday night, July 22.
"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. "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.
"I am forever grateful to all my teammates, coaches, trainers, and others who have supported my family and I along the way. 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."
He added: "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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Vokolek played collegiately at Rutgers and Nebraska before entering the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2023. He was later signed to the Cardinals' active roster in December of that year.
Vokolek appeared in five games last season with one start and mostly played on special teams. The Cardinals did not offer him a contract this offseason, thus making him a free agent.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Arizona Cardinals TE Travis Vokolek retires at age 28
