Concussions lead RB Charlie Offerdahl to step away from game – Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado running back Charlie Offerdahl is retiring from football after several concussions.

On a video posted on head coach Deion Sanders’ Instagram page, Offerdahl informed the team of his decision during a team meeting on Tuesday morning.

“Obviously I haven’t been here this summer,” Offerdahl told the team. “If it’s not obvious already, I won’t be coming back this year. How serious this last concussion was and how many I’ve had leading up to it is pretty scary for me and my family, but I will be hanging it up.”

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Offerdahl is a senior who had one more year of eligibility. CU, which opens the season Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field, held its first preseason practice on Tuesday.

“Obviously this is a really tough decision for me because of how much football does mean to me,” said Offerdahl, who rushed for 280 yards in his career. “I’ve been playing it since third grade.”

A graduate of Dakota Ridge High School, Offerdahl came to CU as a walk-on in 2021 and quickly made an impression. He was named the Buffs’ scout team player of the year as a freshman.

In 2022, he had 37 carries for 150 yards, the most ever for a walk-on in CU history.

When head coach Deion Sanders was hired following the 2022 season, there was a major overhaul of the entire roster, but Offerdahl was one of a few players who remained, earning the label of “OBs” – Original Buffs.