Notre Dame tight end Kevin Bauman medically retires after left knee injury

Notre Dame tight end Kevin Bauman received heartbreaking news during his sixth fall camp in South Bend. His football career is over after yet another left knee injury, the Irish announced Saturday morning.

Bauman suffered an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, according to Notre Dame football public relations. It’s his fourth major leg injury — all in his left leg — in the past five seasons, dating back to 2021.

Shortly after the Irish announced the devastating news, Bauman put out a statement on Instagram that confirmed his decision to medically retire from football.

“Life is all about the journey,” Bauman said. “Unfortunately, I suffered yet another season-ending injury. And while I have been struggling to soak it in, I have taken a few days and prayed about it. While my journey as a football player has come to an end, I can confidently say the rest of my life is just getting started.”

Bauman said he will remain around the football team throughout the 2025 season. When he leaves Notre Dame, he will do so with both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

“Notre Dame means everything to me: opportunity, growth, resilience,” Bauman said. “I have been so blessed during my time here. I have made incredible connections, and most importantly, I have grown my faith to the strongest it has ever been. This place is so special.”

Entering his sixth season at Notre Dame, Bauman was set to play his biggest role in the offense yet. Last year was his first fully healthy campaign since he was a true freshman in 2020, but he was a backup and special teamer. Bauman was competing for significant snaps on offense at tight end in 2025.

“Kevin is an incredible asset to this football team,” Irish offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock said Aug. 1. “I don’t think anybody ever got him mixed up with a 4.5 [40-yard dash] guy, but his movement skills have improved as his health has improved.

“I’m happy for him, that he’s able to get rewarded for a lot of hard work he’s put in to put himself in a position to be a factor on this football team.”

Bauman first got hurt when he broke his leg five games into the 2021 season. He tore his ACL three games into 2022, and again in fall camp in 2023. With his legs finally under him after a healthy 2024, Bauman had been feeling and moving better than ever.

Notre Dame was working through what Bauman’s role in the offense would have been, but in a cruel twist, the veteran tight end who stayed loyal to the Irish for six years will never find out.