Mac Markway retires from Nebraska football due to recurring knee injuries

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 9:08 AM

Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Mac Markway retires from Nebraska football due to recurring knee injuries

Summary

Nebraska defensive end Mac Markway announced his retirement from football on September 9, 2026. A former four-star recruit, Markway transferred to the program from LSU and initially played tight end before moving to the defensive line this past off-season. He struggled with severe health setbacks during his tenure, suffering season-ending knee injuries in both 2024 and 2025. Despite logging six snaps against Ohio last week and receiving expectations from head coach Matt Rhule for an expanded workload, Markway determined his knees could no longer sustain the physical demands of the sport. He indicated that he intends to remain with the Nebraska team in a non-playing capacity while transitioning away from active participation on the field.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Mac Markway announced his retirement from football on September 9, 2026.
•The former four-star recruit missed the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to knee injuries.
•Markway moved to the defensive line this past off-season to pursue more playing time.
•He played six snaps against Ohio in the week prior to his announcement.
•Markway plans to continue supporting the Nebraska team in an off-field role.

Latest Updates

9:08 AMYahoo Sports — Nebraska defensive end Mac Markway announces retirement
7:19 PMYahoo Sports — Nebraska Football: Mac Markway Announces He Is Stepping Away from Football

What they're saying

"
In 2024, Nebraska received a transfer from a former four-star recruit who started one game for LSU as a true freshman. That was Mac Markway and he was going to be the next great tight end for Nebraska. Unfortunately, Markway suffered a knee injury in September of 2024 while at Nebraska. He ended up redshirting […]
— Yahoo Sports