Former Kickapoo High and Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek announced his medical retirement from the NFL on social media.

Local Connection

Vokolek, 28, had spent the past three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, and had assumed a larger role through the first five games in 2025 before suffering a Week 6 neck injury against the Indianapolis Colts.

He said he was advised to step away from the game following the season-ending injury and had sought opinions from numerous doctors and neurologists before making the decision.

Vokolek found his way to the league in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted, initially securing a practice squad before being picked up by Arizona.

Prior to his professional career, the 6-foot-7 tight end spent his collegiate career split between Rutgers and Nebraska.

Vokolek earned three Academic All-Big Ten distinctions (2020, 2021, 2022) and was named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2023 while racking up 40 receptions, 450 receiving yards, and two touchdown receptions across 27 games with the Cornhuskers.

At Kickapoo, Vokolek helped the Chiefs to two state playoff appearances, including the state semifinals his junior year.

Vokolek is the son of former Missouri State defensive coordinator and associate head coach D.J. Vokolek, currently a defensive line coach at Northwestern.

Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.