Minnesota Golden Gophers offensive lineman Tommy Olson won’t pursue a future playing professional football.
Olson, the starting center for Jerry Kill’s Gophers, made the surprising announcement Wednesday morning during his weekly appearance on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show.
“I decided to give up football,” Olson said. “I love the game of football. I just don’t really have that passion to work for it anymore.”
BREAKING NEWS: “I’m done with football.” Gophers center Tommy Olson announces that he is choosing to skip the NFL Draft & be done w/football
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) January 21, 2015
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound senior started all 14 games for Minnesota this season, serving as a road grader for an offense that rushed for more than 2,800 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and media, according to GopherSports.com.
Olson added: “I had a great career at Minnesota and I just kind of feel like I’m good. I’m done with football and ready to move on to my next chapter in life.”
Olson’s older brother, Ed, played offensive line for the Gophers from 2010-14 and their father, Ed, Sr., was a three-time letterwinner for the Gophers from 1980-82.
One of Olson’s first goals, KFAN reports, is to lose weight by starting a low-carb diet.
