Jets QB Jordan Travis Retires After Injury Setback

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Jets QB Jordan Travis Retires After Injury Setback \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jordan Travis, former Florida State star and New York Jets quarterback, has announced his retirement from football at age 24 following a long recovery from a serious leg injury. Despite a determined rehab process, Travis was medically advised to step away. His NFL career ends before he could take a single professional snap.

Quick Looks

Jordan Travis, 24, announced his retirement from football due to injury complications.
He suffered a severe leg injury in November 2023 while playing for Florida State.
Travis was a 2024 fifth-round pick by the New York Jets.
He spent the 2024 NFL season on the non-football injury list.
Despite aggressive rehab, his leg did not recover as hoped.
Doctors medically advised Travis to step away from the game.
Travis finished 5th in Heisman Trophy voting in 2023 after leading FSU to an 11-0 start.
He once hoped to succeed Aaron Rodgers as the Jets’ starting QB.
His agent claimed the Jets rushed rehab, causing setbacks—an allegation the team denied.
Travis posted a heartfelt handwritten farewell note and thanked the Jets for their support.
The Jets placed him on the reserve/retired list following his decision.
Travis expressed he is “overwhelmed with gratitude” and trusts “The Lord’s Plan.”

Deep Look

Jordan Travis, a once-rising football star who guided Florida State back to national prominence, has announced his retirement from professional football after a grueling 17-month recovery from a severe leg injury. At just 24 years old, his NFL journey ends without a single game played.

The New York Jets confirmed on Wednesday that Travis, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will be placed on the reserve/retired list. His decision to walk away was based on medical advice following complications and setbacks during his rehabilitation.

While his time with the Jets never officially began, the emotional weight of his announcement sent ripples across both the NFL and college football communities, many of whom had followed Travis’s path from adversity to triumph—and now, to unexpected closure.

A Career Derailed by One Play

Travis’s path to the NFL was upended on November 18, 2023, in a game between Florida State and North Alabama. On a standard play, Travis’s left leg became trapped under a tackler, contorting unnaturally and resulting in a fracture and severe ankle injury. The scene was gruesome, with teammates visibly shaken and fans silenced. It was immediately clear that the injury was serious—season-ending at the very least.

That night became the final chapter of his collegiate playing career. Despite his exceptional season and Heisman buzz, Travis was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Seminoles fought to remain in the national title picture.

Legacy at Florida State

Before the injury, Travis was in the midst of a breakout season, completing 63.9% of his passes with 20 touchdowns and only two interceptions. More importantly, he led the Seminoles to an 11-0 record, putting the program back in the national spotlight after years of mediocrity.

His dual-threat ability, calm under pressure, and leadership on and off the field earned him the admiration of coaches and teammates alike. By season’s end, he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, a feat few anticipated when he began his FSU journey as a transfer from Louisville.

Travis didn’t just rack up stats—he changed the culture in Tallahassee.

“Jordan brought this team back to life,” said FSU head coach Mike Norvell. “He gave us belief again.”

Drafted on Faith and Potential

Despite his injury, the New York Jets selected Travis in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, seeing long-term upside and a potential future starter. At the time, Travis voiced big dreams, even suggesting he hoped one day to succeed Aaron Rodgers as the Jets’ quarterback.

“I love adversity. I love waking up every single day and having to make a choice,” he told reporters shortly after being drafted. “It just makes the story a whole lot cooler.”

He embraced the challenge ahead with a signature smile and unwavering optimism. But behind the scenes, the recovery process was more complicated than anyone expected.

Rehab, Setbacks, and Controversy

Travis spent the 2024 season on the Jets’ non-football injury (NFI) list, continuing his rehab while working with trainers and specialists. But in March 2025, his agent Deiric Jackson told ESPN that the team had “tried to rush” Travis’s recovery, potentially leading to a setback.

The Jets, for their part, claimed they had strictly followed the rehabilitation plan outlined by Travis’s surgeon. Still, questions swirled about whether expectations had been too high or too fast.

General Manager Darren Mougey declined to comment during the 2025 NFL Draft when asked about Travis’s status. But on Wednesday, following the quarterback’s announcement, Mougey released a supportive statement:

“It is unfortunate that he was unable to get back on the field after working so hard. We support his decision and wish him only the best.”

A Heartfelt Goodbye

Travis released a handwritten note on his X (formerly Twitter) account and included a statement shared by the Jets:

“On November 18, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn. I gave everything I had to the rehab process, but despite all my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped. After much prayer and consultation with the doctors, medical experts, and my agent, I’ve been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply.”

He thanked the Jets organization for “believing in me and providing me with the opportunity to live out the ultimate dream,” and acknowledged the love and support of his family, friends, coaches, and teammates.

“It is crazy how fast life can change,” Travis wrote. “This is not the ending I had ever imagined, but I do trust The Lord’s Plan above all else.”

The Mental Toll of a Dream Deferred

The emotional gravity of Travis’s retirement is profound—not just for what it means to his NFL future, but for how it represents the emotional toll injuries can have on young athletes. Travis went from being a Heisman contender and face of a historic program to fighting to walk without pain, let alone play at a professional level.

And yet, through each setback, Travis remained grounded, spiritual, and optimistic—rare traits in a competitive world that doesn’t often reward patience.

“I’ve always said this makes the story even better,” Travis once told reporters. “I love the hard parts.”

Ultimately, this chapter doesn’t end with a game-winning drive or championship parade—but with something equally rare in sports: peace, perspective, and gratitude.

What Comes Next for Travis?

While Travis won’t be under center in an NFL huddle, his future in football may not be over. He’s often spoken about his love for the game beyond just playing—through leadership, mentorship, and faith.

Analysts believe he could explore roles in:

Coaching, particularly quarterback development
Broadcasting, given his charisma and insight
Motivational speaking, focusing on overcoming adversity
Faith-based outreach, given his spiritual approach to challenges

And with Florida State’s enduring admiration for him, opportunities to stay involved with the Seminoles program remain highly likely.

Final Takeaway

Jordan Travis’s football journey ends not with a touchdown, but with a testimony.

A leader, a competitor, and a symbol of perseverance, Travis redefined what it means to battle back. His retirement is not a defeat—it’s a decision made with courage and integrity in the face of a hard truth.

He may never have played an NFL snap, but his impact will last far beyond the stat sheet—as a reminder that even broken dreams can carry purpose.