Quarterback Jordan Travis has informed the Jets of his intention to retire.
A fifth-round pick (No. 171 overall) out of Florida State in 2023, Travis sustained a serious injury to his left leg in his final college game against North Alabama on Nov. 18, 2023 . Travis (6-1, 200), who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, had completed 63.9% of his passes with 20 TDs and 2 INTs while leading the 'Noles to an 11-0 mark.
"On November 18, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn," said Travis, who will be placed on the reserve/retired list, in a statement. "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."
Travis, who rehabbed during rookie minicamp last spring, was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI list) on July 23, 2024. Travis then was placed on the reserve/not-football list on Aug. 27, 2024."Jordan has informed us of his intent to retire due to the injury he sustained while at Florida State," GM Darren Mougey said in a 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."
The West Palm Beach, FL, native began his collegiate career at Louisville in 2018 before transferring to FSU after one redshirt season. A two-year starter for the Seminoles, Travis is No. 2 in wins by a starting QB in school history (28-10). He also broke Chris Weinke's school records with 99 total touchdowns 10,665 yards of total offense.
Travis threw for 8,644 yards, 65 touchdowns and 19 interceptions at Florida State in 46 games (38 starts). He became the first Seminoles QB with three wins against Miami and finished his career with 17 straight wins.Travis, who suffered a gruesome leg injury while playing in 2023 for then-undefeated Florida State, announced Wednesday that his surgically repaired left leg hasn't fully recovered and that he has decided to walk away based on advice from doctors.
"On November 18th, 2023, my life and career took an unexpected turn," Travis said in a statement. "I gave everything I had to the rehab process, but despite my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped. After much prayer and consultation with my doctors and medical team, I have been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply."
The Jets selected Travis, who turns 25 on Friday, in the fifth round (No. 171) of the 2024 draft. They knew he faced continued rehab, but they felt it was worth the risk because of his upside. Initially, there was hope that he would be cleared to practice at some point, but that never happened. He spent the entire season on the non-football injury list.
General manager Darren Mougey, who wasn't with the organization when Travis was drafted, declined to comment at the conclusion of last weekend's draft when asked about the quarterback's health status.
"Jordan has informed us of his intent to retire due to the injury he sustained while at Florida State," Mougey said in a statement Wednesday. "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."
It's unclear whether the Jets knew about Travis' retirement plans during the draft. They opted not to draft a quarterback. Their current depth chart is led by Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor. After those two, they have Adrian Martinez, a practice squad player in 2024. Former Missouri quarterback Brady Cook has agreed to a contract as an undrafted free agent.
In early March, Travis' agent, Deiric Jackson, was critical of the Jets, telling ESPN, "His rehab with the Jets was not the best. They tried to rush him. It was too fast. There was pressure on the coaching staff, and they tried to get him going sooner than the timeline really was. That caused the setback, and we had to shut him down completely."
Jackson declined to specify the nature of the setback. The Jets said they followed the rehab protocol prescribed by Travis' surgeon, orthopedist Robert Anderson. At the time of the interview with ESPN, Jackson said he was "optimistic" that Travis would be ready for the 2025 season.
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