Former Tennessee WR Bru McCoy Announces Medical Retirement from Football

Former Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy is hanging up the cleats.

McCoy announced Tuesday he is medically retiring from football:

"It's with a heavy heart but a feeling of gratitude that I share with you guys that I made the difficult decision to medically retire from football," the announcement said. "This has been one of the toughest decisions of my life, but after careful consideration with my doctors, family and people closest to me, I've come to the conclusion that it's the right path for my long-term health and well-being."

No teams selected McCoy during last month's NFL draft despite some buzz leading up to the event, and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported "my understanding is it was made known during the draft not to select him."

McCoy referenced his health history in the announcement.

"As many of you know I came back and played last year after what could've been a career ending injury," he said. "I felt it was my responsibility to myself, coaches, family and most importantly the community I have here in Knoxville to give back for all of the love that has been shown to me."

McCoy was limited to five games in 2023 because of what Patrick Brown of 247Sports called a "scary ankle injury" that required multiple surgeries and a lengthy stint in the hospital after he was stretchered off the field and into an ambulance.

The wide receiver started his collegiate career at USC but never established himself as a difference-maker for the Trojans. 

As Brown detailed, he missed his freshman season because of an illness, played just six games in the pandemic-shorted season in 2020 and then missed the 2021 campaign as a Title IX investigation that resulted in no charges played itself out.

He started with Tennessee in the 2022 season and posted career-highs across the board with 52 catches for 667 yards and four scores. He returned from his 2023 injury this past season and helped lead the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff with 39 catches for 472 yards and two touchdowns.

McCoy was seen as a potential mid-round draft prospect after his time at Tennessee.

B/R's Scouting Department ranked him as the 178th-best overall player and 23rd-best wide receiver in its final big board of prospects.