Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek retires at age 28 after suffering a severe neck injury sustained during the 2025 season. Multiple reports say the injury occurred during a kickoff play when Vokolek was blocking and collided with another player, after which he was removed from the field on a stretcher. Fox News reports that Vokolek has described the injury as significant and that medical advice led to the decision to stop playing in the NFL. Yahoo Sports similarly notes that the injury happened during a game last season and highlights the on-field response to the collision, including that he was stretchered off. The reports agree that the injury has lasting implications severe enough to end his playing career. Vokolek’s retirement comes while he is still in his late 20s, and it is specifically tied to the neck condition doctors evaluated after the incident.