Jordan Kohout Gives Up Football Due to Migraines

Jan 2, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas (5) throws the ball as he is pressured by Wisconsin Badgers defensive tackle Jordan Kohout (91) during the fourth quarter in the 2012 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

Jordan Kohout figured to be a major part of the Badgers’ plans on the defensive line this year, but the redshirt junior is no longer in the mix after being forced to retire from football due to migraines. When you hear the details of Kohout’s medical issues you certainly won’t be able to blame him for giving up the sport. Kohout suffered intense migraine headaches this spring and went in for testing. These tests showed that he had suffered at least two small strokes and doctors advised him to give up football.

“You don’t really think of 21-year-old athletes having strokes,” Kohout said of his condition. “But I’m glad that we caught it early and I can still do a lot of the things that I love to do. As much as I love football, life has a lot of other things to offer as well.”

Kohout says he had only limited migraine issues, maybe one or two episodes during high school, before this April when he suffered a series of intense attacks directly related to physical contact in practice.

“It starts with a light flash, light streaks; migraine sufferers call it an aura,” Kohout described. “Tunnel vision would kind of form and it was followed by pretty intense pain; sometimes vertigo, too. I’d have them every time I had contact in practice … I woke up one day with streaks of light and I had them the whole day. It was pretty awful.”

Kohout, who appeared in 26 games in two years, will remain at the University of Wisconsin on a medical scholarship and will serve as a student assistant with the football squad.