Georgia Tech's Kyle Efford Retires Due to Injuries, All-ACC LB Says He Gave 'Everything I Had in Me'

Georgia Tech two-time All-ACC linebacker Kyle Efford is medically retiring from football, he announced Tuesday.

"Over the past few years, my body has taken more damage than I can continue to ignore... and while my heart and my mind still have so much more to give, I reached a point where I have to start thinking about the life ahead of me," Efford told reporters (h/t Fletcher Page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ).

Efford continued, "This isn't how I imagined my football career coming to an end, but I'm at peace because I can say with full confidence that I gave this game everything that I had in me."

Efford, who was in his fifth season with Georgia Tech, missed games earlier this fall. He returned last Saturday to record a tackle for loss in a 28-25 win over Duke.

He will retire as a two-year team captain who recorded 250 career tackles over parts of six seasons with the Yellow Jackets.

Efford added 6.5 sacks, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and an interception across 43 games. The fifth-year senior will remain with Georgia Tech this season as a captain and player-coach, according to the team .

"We'll miss having No. 44 in the middle of our defense, but know that he'll continue to make an impact on this team with his leadership and presence," Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key said in a statement.

Efford previously missed time and played through a shoulder injury in 2024 before undergoing surgery the following offseason.

He missed time again this season after injuring his shoulder during Georgia Tech's Week 2 overtime win against Tennessee.

Efford led the Yellow Jackets in tackles in each of the last three seasons, becoming the program's first player in 24 years to accomplish the feat.

He racked up 81 tackles during his freshman 2023 season to become the first freshman in 23 years to lead the Yellow Jackets in tackles.

He added 64 tackles despite injury limitations in 2024, then paced his team once more with 77 tackles in 2025.

Efford recorded 27 tackles, including two for loss, to go along with a sack this season despite being limited to 169 defensive snaps over three games. He capped off his career with six tackles in last weekend's win over Duke.

Georgia Tech's season will continue Saturday with a road game against Virginia Tech.