What NC State QB Grayson McCall said about concussions, his retirement, football future
Grayson McCall, lying in the back of an ambulance on the way to WakeMed Hospital on Oct. 5, looked over to his mother. At that moment, they knew his playing career had come to an end.
“That’s it,” he remembers them saying simultaneously, in the aftermath of a crushing hit he absorbed against Wake Forest at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The N.C. State quarterback spoke to the media on Tuesday for the first time since announcing his retirement from football last week.
“As much as I love this game and everything it’s done for me, I can’t put myself through that again,” McCall said on Tuesday. “It’s not worth it at the end of the day.”
McCall said he wants to live a “full life.” He wants to get married, have children and be a football coach — and he wants to excel at them.
“Without a healthy brain, none of those things are possible,” McCall said. “I love the game so much, but it’s come down to things bigger than that.”
McCall sustained a similar injury last October while playing at Coastal Carolina. He made helmet-to-helmet contact with an Arkansas State defender and was carted off the field. It was his fourth concussion. He did not play the rest of the season. He called the most recent one a “ big déjà vu moment.”
Researchers have placed a greater focus on traumatic brain injuries, notably chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), in recent years to better prevent, treat and diagnose individuals with these injuries.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma stated people with three or more concussions had “significantly worse” cognitive outcomes and results became increasingly worse after each additional concussion. McCall’s collision during the Wake Forest game caused his sixth.
He lost his helmet and mouth guard in the initial collision. Then, his head made contact with the defenders’ helmets as he fell to the ground. The jarring nature of the play doesn’t make the outcome easier — it’s always difficult to end a career — but it gives people a better understanding behind his decision to retire.
He suffered a minor concussion against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 14 when his head hit the ground two minutes before halftime. He missed N.C. State’s next two games before returning against Wake Forest.
“The more you continue to get, the chances of a full recovery decrease,” McCall said. “I just kind of had to build up the courage to have those conversations and, ultimately, write something up and make it public. But, I kind of knew that it was a reality right after.”
McCall continues to process the end of his playing career. He admits to feeling upset, sad and disappointed in his performances for the Wolfpack, saying it hurts to know he didn’t play to the best of his abilities.
The team captain said he doesn’t have any regrets, though. That’s a positive he’s leaning on during the transition from playing to being on the bench full time.
“Everything happens for a reason. I believe that, even going through this time when that’s hard to believe and see through,” McCall said. “I am happy that I don’t have any regrets. As hard as all this is, I know I’ll get through it. There’s a brighter side at the end of this.”
McCall, like any other injured player, remains part of the team. He attends the morning meetings, assists in practice and will cheer for his teammates on the sidelines. McCall wants to be a football coach when he’s done at N.C. State.
He’s grateful for head coach Dave Doeren, the assistants and the players who want him around, even if he won’t get any more snaps. McCall said it speaks to the type of people in the program and the value they place on his experience and opinions.
Freshman CJ Bailey remains in the starting role, with sophomore Lex Thomas behind him.
Bailey said McCall set a positive example for the other players. He called the grad student a great leader, noting his ability to say the right things at the right time, his football knowledge, preparation and energy.
“He’s just an impressive young man,” Doeren added. “He’s one of those guys that you just really pull for. I’m super excited about what’s next for him. He’s going to be elite.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 2:42 PM with the headline "What NC State QB Grayson McCall said about concussions, his retirement, football future."
