Grayson McCall spoke with the media Tuesday, for the first time since announcing his retirement for playing football. He went over the details of how he arrived at his decision, the impact concussions had on his career and the support from NC State throughout the whole process after Tuesday’s practice.
Read the full transcript of McCall’s availability below.
On coming to terms with retirement
“It was extremely difficult. At the end of the day, it was something I knew was a possibility after everything that happened last year and then getting reinjured in the La Tech game. Going into it from that point forward, I knew it was a possibility if I couldn’t stay healthy. Specifically to another head injury, I knew it was a possibility. To actually have the conversations and have to put it into words and things like that, it was tough.
“I knew one day the cleats are going to come off and the helmet is going to come off. But for it to happen like that in the way it did, it was really heartbreaking for me. Luckily for me I’ve got a lot of great people in my corner that, have helped me through this. Going into the transition and excited for what’s next.”
On educating himself about concussions
“Yeah, absolutely. When it happened last year it was a pretty bad concussion. It was really eye opening for me. Taking as a educational opportunity to learn and continuing to learn as I’m going throughout this process. At the end of the day, I want to have a full life. I want to get married and have kids one day. I want to be a football coach. I want to be a great dad one day. Without a healthy brain none of those things are possible. I love the game so much but it’s come down to things bigger than that.”
On how many concussions he’s had in career
“The one last year I think was four. Looking at six or seven total. Every doctor has their own opinion but once you get to the four to five range, anything after that really isn’t good. What I’ve learned from this last one is that the more you continue to get them, the chances of the full recovery decrease. I think it’s been six now.”
On transitioning into coaching role quickly
“It’s a rather quick transition. I’m blessed to have a coach like Coach [Dave] Doeren and coach [Kurt] Roper and his staff here that are letting me get my feet wet now, srving that role now. Helping CJ [Bailey] and helping the other guys. Sitting through coaches meetings and things like that to get my feet wet and see how I like it. I’m blessed with the opportunity to be able to do that here and get things started. I’m excited to see where it goes.”
On what he’d like to do as coach
“I’d like to start on the college level if possible. I played for three different staffs and have a lot of connections throughout the country involved with college football. Hopefully I get the opportunity and I can make the best of it. We’ll go from there.”
On emotions during retirement decision
“The one positive I can take through this thing is I don’t have any regret. Throughout my whole college career I’ve laid it on the line every single game, every single play for the guys beside me and the love that I have for the game. That’s one positive I can take from it, that I don’t have any regrets.
“Other than that, a whirlwind of emotions. Upset and sad and going through all that. Disappointed with how my time went here. I didn’t play to the best of my ability. That hurts. At the end of the day, everything happens for a reason. I believe that even going through this time when that’s hard to believe and see through. At the end of the day I am happy that I don’t have any regrets, as hard as all this is. I know I’ll get through it. There’s a brighter side on the end of this. Going through all those emotions still right now.”
On support from program while making decision
“It compliments the the type of people we have in the building here. I’m aware that it’s not like that everywhere. For them to keep me around and give me the ability to sit in on different things and voice my opinion and help out, it’s really important to me. I’m really grateful for it. Really thankful for the opportunity to come here and be the quarterback and now the opportunity that they’re giving me to start my coaching career and see where it goes.”
On having time to make decision over bye week
“It was huge. I’m going through this but there’s a lot of people that are also going through this. This journey that I’ve had for so long now has been really special to my family. It’s taken us places we never thought we’d go and done things like that. As hard as it is for me, it was really helpful to go home and be around family, be around loved ones and have a reality check that there’s so much more to life than football.
“Being around it 365, days a year for the past 20 years now, it’s going to be a hard adjustment. Being around those people that love me and care about me, it’s special. I’m grateful that they let me go home to be around family for the week. I’m refreshed. I’m glad to be back and help the team get another win this week.”
On what changes should take place with concussions in football
“I don’t know. There needs to be a more distinct targeting rule and things like that. But we signed up for it. Every time you put the helmet on and you go out there and play, there’s a chance you can get hurt.
“That’s what makes this sport so special. It’s a violent sport. It’s a tough sport. If you’re not tough, you can’t play it. It all starts with the mindset. I’ve always had that mindset. Whenever the mindset wavers, that you’re scared to get hurt or you’re hesitating out there, it all goes bad. This is a game that we signed up to play. If you’re not tough, it’s not for you.”
On still being leader on team
“It definitely helps. It’s what I love to do. It’s something I’ve always done. My role is changing as I’m not on the field, but being the same leader for the teammates, being the quarterback in the room that’s played a lot of games and played a lot of snaps and can help those guys do it. My leadership role and in that space doesn’t change. It’s for me to make the transition. It all happened so fast. Being out there practice, I want to pick the ball up and run around and throw it still. I’m still fighting that. I’ll get through it. It’ll come with time.”
On if people seeing hits he took helps
“Maybe so. I don’t know if it makes it easier but there’s a better understanding that guys were able to see what I went through last year. For it to kind of all happen again, it felt like a big deja vu moment for me. I wouldn’t say it makes it any easier. People have a better understanding of why I’m making this decision and how scary it was.
“It was really scary for me but all my teammates, everybody that was right there and saw it happen, it was pretty scary for them. For guys to see that happening, to have the courage to strap it back up and go over the next plays, it says a lot about the game. It says a lot about the guys we have here. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t think it made it any easier but I do think it allowed people to have a better understanding of what happened.”
On when he decided to retire
“Like I said earlier, I was fully aware of that being a possibility when everything happened. I knew, whenever I woke up in the ambulance and they took me to the hospital, I opened my eyes and my mom was right beside me. We both looked at each other the same time and said that’s it. As much as I love this game and everything it’s done for me, I can’t put myself through that again. I just can’t mentally.
“I talked about my health earlier and my family and all the things I want to do in the future. It’s not worth at the end of the day. Whenever I woke up and came to the conclusion that was probably it, I had to build the courage to have those conversations and ultimately write something up and make it public. I knew that it was a reality right after it happened.”
On Doeren touting him as great coach to be
“It’s special. I really appreciate coach Doeren and all he’s done for me here. To have such a prestigious coach like that say positive words like that for me going into a new role is special. If you watch how I play the game and the passion I have, the want-to to help people, you can make those assumptions. It means a lot. I’m really thankful for coach Doeren.”
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