After flipping the script on his playing career and changing his course in life for the better over the past three years at Tennessee, Bru McCoy is now set to begin his life after football. The wide receiver, who became an influential presence and leader in the locker room, a team captain and a beloved figure in the fan base with the Vols after starting his career at USC, announced his medical retirement from football via social media on Tuesday night. McCoy’s time at Rocky Top was a rousing success, but also wasn’t without its challenges, from the wait on his eligibility for the 2022 season to the scary ankle injury he suffered in 2023, but he handled the adversity with nothing but determination and class.
McCoy’s time at USC was defined by what happened off the field, from his back-and-forth movement between the Trojans and Texas to missing all of the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
But Tennessee offered him a fresh start in 2022, and he flourished on and off the field. The 6-foot-2-and-a-half, 209-pound pass-catcher caught 108 passes for 1,356 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games with the Vols. After coming back from his injury, McCoy completed his degree, was named to the SEC Community Service Team and a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and helped Tennessee make the College Football Playoff in the final year of his college career.
“Everything he does, he does the right way,” Vols running back Dylan Sampson said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I guarantee, you go in the building, Bru’s going to be the first one you see, he’s going to be the last one you see. He meets with young guys, holding meetings with the receivers, going through installs like he’s a coach, man. He’s so detail-oriented, and when he steps on the field, he don’t care how many times he gets the ball. Everything he do, he’s going to do 100%. He’s going to block 100%, he’s going to catch 100% and you’re not going to tackle him after the first catch.”
McCoy made his retirement announcement via social media with a graphic containing this message:
“First and foremost I want to thank my family for everything they have invested in me during this journey and always standing by my side while playing the sport that God blessed me to be gifted in the past 18 years. Additionally, thank you to my coaches and teammates throughout the years for support and guiding me every step of the way.
“It’s with a heavy heart but a feeling of gratitude that I share with you guys that I made the difficult decision to medically retire from football. This has been one of the toughest decisions of my life, but after careful consideration with my doctors, family, and people closest to me I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the right path for my long-term health and well-being.
“As many of you know I came back and played last year after what could’ve been a career ending injury. I felt it was my responsibility to myself, coaches, family, and most importantly the community I have here in Knoxville to give back for all of the love that has been shown to me. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank each and every one of you who has supported me throughout my journey for it was more than you could ever know.
“From the first days I stepped onto the field in Pop Warner, through Mater Dei High school, and finding my home at Tennessee I am now finally turning the page to a long chapter of my life. Whether you were cheering me on from the sidelines or standing by me through adversity, I’ll forever be grateful for all of you.
“Although this chapter in my football journey has come to an end, I believe this is just the beginning. I’m excited about the next steps, and I’m determined to continue pushing myself in new directions. This is not the end of my pursuit of greatness, just a new beginning.
“In regard to my non-profit, Huddle for Hears, this is still a project that I am extremely passionate about and still plan to continue to do CPR and defibrillator training to underprivileged as opportunities arise.
“Thank you all again, from the bottom of my heart. I’ll carry your support with me into the future and beyond.”
In his three seasons at USC, McCoy only played in six games, all during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He missed all of his freshman season to an illness and all of the 2021 season due to an off-field incident. McCoy was essentially suspended during a Title IX investigation after a July arrest from which no charges were filed.
A former five-star recruit who was ranked the No. 1 athlete in the 2019 recruiting cycle by 247Sports after a standout career as a wide receiver and edge rusher for California powerhouse and national champion Mater Dei High School, McCoy benefited from the change of scenery, though he had a long wait on an NCAA ruling on his eligibility, which only ended days before the 2022 season opener.
McCoy provided the steel to the silk of Jalin Hyatt and stepped up as Cedric Tillman was out with an injury to become the second-leading receiver (52 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns) on Tennessee’s 11-win 2022 team. He caught his first touchdown for the Vols in the early-season win against Pittsburgh and had 102 yards and a score on five catches in the win against Florida. His 100-yard games against LSU and Missouri spurred Tennessee to wins, and he caught a touchdown in the Orange Bowl triumph against Clemson.
But while he’ll be remembered at Tennessee for his tenacious playing style and gracious, humble attitude, most fans will always love him for his heroic contested catch as two Alabama defenders crashed into him to set up the game-winning field goal in the famous win against the Crimson Tide.
It was that moment that made his scary injury the following season so much harder. McCoy was fighting for extra yards on a catch against South Carolina when he was tackled awkwardly by a defender who landed on his leg. McCoy was stretchered off into an ambulance and to the hospital, where he stayed for more than a week and underwent multiple surgeries.
McCoy wowed teammates with his determination, positivity and progress over the next several months of his recovery, and he was back at 100% for the start of the 2024 season.
He caught 39 passes for 472 yards and two touchdowns, both in his final game against Neyland Stadium, to conclude his career.
“I don’t think I could be more prepared (for the NFL),” McCoy said at the Combine. “Between Coach Heupel, Coach Pope, Coach Halzle, they definitely – as far as board work and being able to draw up the offense, draw up a defense, as far as building your character and how you represent yourself and how you represent the brand at Tennessee – I couldn’t be more thankful for how they prepared me.”
But McCoy dealt with a late-season hamstring issue and it limited him in the pre-draft process by shortening his stay at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and keeping him out of workouts at the Combine and Tennessee’s Pro Day, but he was confident in an NFL team liking him for the playing style he showed at Tennessee.
“I would say that when I step on the field that my level of competitiveness and my willingness to go harder for longer and just want to impose my will on people is different,” McCoy said at the Combine. “I think a lot of receivers, there’s this, I guess, pre-judged idea that receivers have a certain attitude. I’ve kind of found my wheelhouse in going against the grain a little bit and just being as physical as I could possibly be, but also being a great pass-catcher, being reliable and somebody that is an extension of the run game, also, so I do what I’m really good at as often as I can.”
Instead he’ll be taking those traits into the next stage of his life.
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