Notre Dame tight end retires on eve of football season after suffering brutal injury setback

Fighting Irish star Kevin Bauman has released a heartfelt statement confirming his decision to call time on his college football career after suffering “yet another season-ending injury”

13:02 ET, 09 Aug 2025Updated 15:42 ET, 09 Aug 2025

Notre Dame TE Kevin Bauman has announced his retirement from football following an ACL injury(Image: Getty Images)

Notre Dame tight end Kevin Bauman has announced his retirement after suffering his latest season-ending injury.

The Fighting Irish star took to social media on Saturday with a heartfelt statement confirming his decision, which comes just weeks ahead of Marcus Freeman’s side getting their 2025 campaign underway against Miami on August 31.

Bauman, a senior, admitted to having “struggled to soak it all in” following his latest setback, which came during practice as he sustained yet another knee injury. It comes shortly after former Notre Dame and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Ade Ogundeji retired from the NFL at 26.

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It has now led him to the tough decision to officially hang up his boots, with constant setbacks and fitness issues finally taking their toll on the 6-foot-5, 250-pound star. In five years, he has made just 26 appearances for Notre Dame.

Bauman took to Instagram to announce his decision, uploading a lengthy statement in which he thanked his friends and family for their support but insisted that his life is “just getting started.”

The post, captioned “Love Thee,” has already received an outpouring of love and support from his 10,000 followers and several of his past and present teammates.

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Taking to the comments section, Notre Dame placekicker Mitch Jeter wrote: “It was a pleasure to share the field with you bro! Excited to see what’s next.”

Fighting Irish alum and current Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts posted an orange heart alongside the fingers-crossed emoji, while Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble wrote: “Always my goat brotha.”

Bauman was preparing for his sixth year and final year in South Bend when his worst nightmares came true once more. The youngster had been gearing up for his final year of college eligibility when he sustained another knee injury during practice.

But his injury issues have held him back since he was a redshirt freshman in 2021, when he fractured his fibula in week one and appeared in just five games for the Irish.

Bauman last featured in Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Spring Game in April(Image: Getty Images)

In 2022, Bauman played in three games before suffering an ACL injury, and his 2023 campaign never got started as he partially tore his ACL in the first week of fall camp.

Last season, Bauman finally made his long-awaited return to the field to play in 14 games, including all four College Football Playoff ties as Notre Dame made it all the way to the National Championship game, recording one reception and a touchdown.

Bauman ends his Irish career with six receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter of last September’s blowout win at Purdue following an eight-yard pass from fellow New Jersey native Steve Angeli.

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