yahoo
ATLANTA, GA JANUARY 20: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman talks to defensive Lineman Brenan Vernon #17 prior to the start of the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Football is a hard sport, and its extremely hard on the human body.
On Monday, Irish Sports Dailys Matt Freeman reported that Notre Dame defensive lineman, Brenan Vernon, has medically retired from football.
Notre Dame DL Brenan Vernon Medically Retires from Football https://t.co/LQkbbBYcjZ Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) June 22, 2026 Vernon was once a prized recruit for the Irish from Mentor, Ohio, and was considered one of the absolute best players in the state.
Injuries played a major role in slowing down, and essentially putting on hold, any type of real development to help push Vernon up the depth chart.
While Vernon will end his career with just two total tackles, he will also leave South Bend with a Notre Dame degree which is something, I think, most of us still consider to be important and a major achievement.
Its easy for casual fans to scoff at Brenan Vernons time at Notre Dame as most of them have no clue as to what theyre talking about.
Even though Vernon was never a major contributor for the defense, he was a major contributor to the team itself and worked hard on the scout team to give the starters a good look.
Brenan is an interesting guy with an eclectic personality, and will be a success in whatever he decides to do next.