Former Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis retires from football

From a former prep standout quarterback and stellar Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver to an NFL veteran, Jared Abbrederis rose up and made the most of his opportunities.

On Friday, Abbrederis called it a career on the field, announcing on Twitter that he was retiring from football.

Before playing for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, Abbrederis broke through as a walk-on at Wisconsin. Emerging in 2010 as a redshirt freshman on the offensive two-deep, the Wautoma, Wis., native went on to play 53 games in cardinal and white and tied Brandon Williams for most receptions in a career (202).

Abbrederis also holds UW’s single-season reception record (78 in 2013), ranks No. 2 in receiving yards (3,140), and is tied for second all-time in touchdown receptions (23) with Tony Simmons. He is also one of three Badgers to record 200-plus receiving yards in a game (207 vs. Ohio State in September 2013).

Abbrederis claimed the 2013 Burlsworth Trophy, an award “honoring the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.”

In the NFL, Abbrederis caught 13 passes for 163 yards (regular season). His main contributions in professional football came during the 2015 season in Green Bay where injuries to the Packers’ receiving corp opened the door for the in-state fan favorite to shine, especially in the playoffs. Though he only caught nine passes for 111 yards in the regular season, Abbrederis caught six passes for 69 yards in two playoff games, including a key two-point conversion in a wild card victory over the Washington Redskins. This after being injured for all of 2014 with an ACL tear and missing almost the entire 2015 training camp due to a concussion.

Abbrederis finished his career in Detroit for the 2017 Lions, playing in seven games and recording three receptions for seven yards. He was waived on Nov. 14.