How a medical retirement paved the way for an NFL first-round pick
In short: In 2021, Laiatu Latu was forced into medical retirement after a neck injury. Doctors feared he might lose the use of his extremities. Instead of walking away, Latu fought for clearance, eventually becoming a unanimous All-American and a first-round NFL draft selection.
The journey from medical retirement to professional stardom is rarely a straight line. For Laiatu Latu, it began with a devastating setback during his sophomore year at the University of Washington. Following a neck injury sustained during fall practices, Latu underwent surgery in March 2021 to address nerve issues. The situation was so severe that Washington's head coach, Jimmy Lake, announced the player would retire for medical reasons to ensure his long-term safety, citing concerns about the potential loss of limb function.
Latu refused to accept a permanent exit from football. After spending four months seeking medical clearance, he consulted specialists, including Dr. Robert Watkins in Marina del Rey, California. By September 2021, Watkins granted him clearance to play. This medical breakthrough allowed Latu to enter the NCAA transfer portal and join the UCLA Bruins, where he began non-contact work before being fully cleared by team physicians near the end of spring practices.
The comeback was nothing short of dominant. During his 2023 season at UCLA, Latu led the nation in tackles for loss per game at 1.8 and recorded 13.0 sacks, the highest in the Pac-12. This performance earned him the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi Awards—the first time UCLA had a player win both—and made him a unanimous All-American. His resilience and physical gifts led the Indianapolis Colts to select him with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, making him the first defensive player taken in that draft class.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Laiatu Latu
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