Cade McNamara is looking for a third school to continue his college football career.
The former Michigan and Iowa QB announced Wednesday that he is entering the transfer window after two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He has one season of eligibility remaining thanks to an additional year of eligibility from the 2020 COVID-impacted season and a redshirt from playing fewer than four games two seasons later.
“I’m looking forward to this break, being the healthiest I’ve been in years and continuing to grow as a player, leader and person,” McNamara wrote. “I’m excited to see where God takes my football journey next.”
McNamara opened the 2023 season as Iowa’s starting quarterback but suffered a season-ending ACL five games into the season. He recovered in time to be Iowa’s Week 1 starter again, but suffered a concussion on Oct. 26 against Northwestern. He hasn’t played for the Hawkeyes since then, as Brendan Sullivan — a transfer from Northwestern — took over as Iowa’s top quarterback.
McNamara came to Iowa after three seasons with the Wolverines. After playing in 14 games in 2021, McNamara appeared in three in 2022 when he lost his starting job to JJ McCarthy.
This 2021 season was McNamara’s best in five seasons of college football. He was 210 of 327 passing for 2,576 yards and 15 TDs with just six interceptions. In 13 games at Iowa, McNamara was 150 of 262 passing for 1,522 yards and 10 TDs with eight interceptions. His last pass with the Hawkeyes was a pick-6 and he committed three turnovers in Iowa’s loss with an Ohio State interception and two fumbles.
It’s been a disappointing two years for both McNamara and Iowa after the school violated NCAA rules during his recruitment. Kirk Ferentz and an assistant coach served a voluntary one-game suspension at the start of the 2024 season for improperly contacting McNamara while he was at Michigan before the transfer window opened.