During his press conference Tuesday, Gary Patterson made a surprising revelation, telling media that JD Spielman has elected to retire from football.
UPDATE: #TCU wide receiver JD Spielman is going to retire from football. The super senior told Patterson yesterday after a conversation with his family. Transferred here from Nebraska prior to the 2020 season.
— Colin Post (@colinp_3) October 26, 2021
Spielman, the son of former NFL player and current Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman, began his career at Nebraska, where he was primed to own many of the Huskers’ receiving records. But after three years, 170 receptions, over 2,500 yards, and 15 touchdowns, he shocked Big Ten fans by announcing he was transferring to TCU in 2020.
Spielman had an immediate impact in the return game for the Horned Frogs, pairing with Derius Davis to form a formidable special teams duo. But a shoulder injury ended his first season in Fort Worth after just three games, and another injury would cut his super senior year short at four, disappointing after a strong start to his final TCU season.
In seven games for the Frogs, Spielman had 13 receptions for 181 yards and two scores, both of which came this year. He was a weapon as a returner, a rusher, and a receiver, and brought a maturity and vast experience to one of the younger — and more talented — position groups in the program.
But after six total seasons as a college athlete and two significant injuries, the multi-talented Spielman has elected to hang them up.
Interested in music in addition to athletics, the incredibly personably Spielman has a bright future in whatever is next for him. While we all wish he would have had the chance to showcase his on the field skillset more for the Frogs, we certainly wish him nothing but the best in whatever his next chapter brings.