Stanford QB Retires After Freak Weightlifting Accident

Stanford QB Josh Nunes has decided to retire after a freak weightlifting injury in February left with a long recovery.

Nunes was performing a bench press at an offseason weighlifting session back in February when he felt his shoulder pop. He then dropped the weight he was lifting, and it fell on his upper body, tearing his right chest muscle.

The injury tore his pectoralis muscle from the bone, leading doctors to use screws to replace it. Doctors said Nunes would fully recover after a year of rehab, but the Stanford QB decided to retire instead of risking further injury.

“I’m going to need my right hand the rest of my life,” Nunes said.

The heir apparent to Stanford great Andrew Luck, Nunes had beat out Brett Nottingham for the starting job in the fall but couldn’t hold his place on the roster. He was eventually replaced by Kevin Hogan, who went on to lead Stanford to a victory in the Rose Bowl.

Though the Stanford QB seems sure about his decision to retire, he still expressed regret at ending his career in that way.

“It’s kind of a tough way to go out,” Nunes told the AP. “Definitely faced a lot of adversity, both with health and football. Obstacles are a part of life and definitely meant to be overcome.”

Nunes had come to Stanford as a highly regarded quarterback from Upland (California) High School. Listed as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, he was high on the list of top quarterback prospects nationwide. In a three-year prep career, he threw for 6,306 yards and 54 touchdowns.

Nunes was also named a John Wooden Scholar Athlete Award for athletic and academic achievement.

After the Stanford QB retires, he turns his focus to his studies. Nunes is studying management science and engineering and is on track to receive a master’s degree next spring.