The 2025 offseason has been challenging for Marcus Freeman. There’s still no clarity regarding the Fighting Irish’s QB1 spot, and injury woes have plagued the head coach on various occasions in these 6-7 months. Be it Chance Tucker and Kia Kahanu’s ACL injuries or Cooper Flanagan going out for the whole season. It’s been tough for Marcus Freeman. But some injuries make you ponder the uncertainty of life, and now, with the announcement of two major injuries, one player’s CFB dream has gone into the abyss, as he announced his retirement.

A journey that began at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey, Kevin Bauman’s prospects for college football were always high. It started with offers from teams like UNC and Texas A&M, but when the Irish called him, Notre Dame, being Bauman’s childhood love, was hard to refuse. So after signing an NLI in December 2019, Bauman went on to wreak havoc in his senior season as he received 687 yards for 10 TDs. But at Notre Dame? That dream got sabotaged three separate times, and now, after a final blow, Bauman has finally called it a day.

“Kedren Young (right knee, anterior cruciate ligament tear) and Kevin Bauman (left knee, articular cartilage injury) sustained injuries during preseason practice. The injuries will subsequently require surgery and force them to miss the remainder of the 2025 season,” wrote the Notre Dame Football PR Team on X. Moreover, this isn’t the first time that Bauman has suffered an injury setback.

Notre Dame’s reputation as being the ‘tight end U’ was enough to convince Bauman to enroll at Notre Dame. “There’s no place I’d rather do it than Notre Dame. I love this place to death. I’ve given everything I have to this place,” said Bauman about his love for the Fighting Irish. He redshirted in his first year and waited for the 2021 season to be his breakthrough. But when the season came, the tight end suffered a fractured fibula, and he missed the whole season. Even then, though, the desire to play at Notre Dame and wanting football to end on his terms was burning bright in him.

As the 2022 season came, it again brought bad news for him as he suffered a torn ACL in just the first month and again missed the season. He did become healthy gradually, but the recovery road became long as he tore his ACL in the 2023 fall camp again. The 2024 season brought some great news as he played two games last year and was raring to be the starter finally in his sixth year in 2025. But now? After suffering a left knee articular cartilage injury, Bauman has finally announced his retirement. And that also takes away the promise of a Week 1 matchup against Miami, where he was expected to go against his brother.

Kevin Bauman writes a heartfelt note upon his retirement

Kevin’s brother, Alex Bauman, came to Miami from Tulane on a transfer this year, playing as a tight end, too. His brother, unlike Kevin, had some good involvements last year and had accumulated 212 yards. Alex not just became a promising tight end at Tulane but also was pivotal in their win against USC in the 2022 season, as he caught the final touchdown for the Green Wave’s 45-46 thriller over the Trojans. Coming in at Miami, Alex was the promised starter, and so, the matchup in Week 1 pitting both brothers against each other was exciting. Kevin even expressed excitement about the matchup in a recent interview. But now?

Kevin wrote an emotional message on his IG account as he announced his retirement from football. “…Throughout my time at Notre Dame, I have truly been embraced by the brotherhood. I have built relationships that will last for the rest of my lifetime, and no injury can take that away from me. I am looking forward to staying connected with the team this fall and helping us reach our full potential…,” wrote Kevin.

Kevin’s journey shows that sometimes dreams do not necessarily become a reality, but that doesn’t mean the journey isn’t successful. Dressing up in that iconic blue and gold might have been an achievement enough for him, and that too, while fighting every battle valiantly and living every day with a ‘never give up’ attitude. Because at the end of the day? It’s the initiative, the grit, and persistent effort that matter, and Kevin’s journey is a testament to just that.