Ben Bywater has medically retired from football

As BYU took on the Kansas Jayhawks in their first conference game with the Big 12, veteran linebacker, Ben Bywater, felt a massive "pop" in his shoulder during a big hit. Only months separated from another shoulder surgery, Bywater was forced to go back under the knife for what would be a season-ending surgery.

"I knew it was torn the second it happened... The truth is I damaged a nerve in my arm," Bywater explained in an interview with the DJ & PK Show. "It would be five, six weeks from the time it happened... [It's] unfortunate, but it is one of those things where I was really trying to push it. But at the end of the day I still can’t move it. It has been three weeks. I still got nerve damage in my arm,” he admitted.

Despite his original assessment, Bywater's recovery would not go according to plan. Weeks turned to months and Bywater's shoulder simply wouldn't be ready for full-contact play when the season commenced at the end of August.

On Wednesday, the Olympus High School product announced his retirement from football, sending a shockwave through the BYU football world.

Head coach Kalani Sitake shared his disappointment with Bywater's announcement with ABC4 News.

"We knew this was a possibility. We were hopeful that he could get back and be ready for us to play, but it's just too risky. As much as he would love to play for us this year, it's just not worth the risk. He has a future in life, and possibly in football too. I'm thankful for what he's done here."

- Kalani Sitake per ABC4 News

He enjoyed 247 career tackles as a Cougar and his absence will be a difficult obstacle to hurdle for a BYU team with expectations that seem to keep dropping. Bywater will continue to be with the team in a non-playing capacity--attending practice, watching film, and any way that he can continue to impact the team for good will still be on the former linebacker's plate.

Hope of a return to football is minimal for the linebacker, though he enjoyed an excellent career with the Cougars. Recently after suffering the shoulder injury that would eventually force his retirement, Bywater shared a desire to return to football.

"I will be playing football next year, whether it is here or the NFL, I don’t know."

- Ben Bywater, 2023

We'll miss his impact and leadership with BYU's football team, and wish Ben luck in the next phase of his life--football or otherwise.

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