Blog matters: Connor Halliday is done with football

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Friday: Connor Halliday has been rehabbing since November to prepare himself for professional football, but now appears to be finished with the sport.

Washington signed Halliday, who was not drafted, but the quarterback is no longer listed on the team’s roster ahead of this weekend’s minicamp. John Keim of ESPN reported this morning that Halliday may be  done playing football permanently.

If so, the timing is curious considering the work the quarterback put in to reach this point after breaking his ankle against USC on Nov. 1. Halliday was invited to the NFL Combine but did not throw there, waiting instead to conduct his own pro day at WSU on April 1, following an extensive rehab process in Coeur d’Alene.

Halliday threw well at his pro day, and Washington general manager Scot McCloughan seemed to take a lot of interest in him as a player, scouting him heavily throughout the pre-draft process.

In the past, the Spokane native has said that eventually he wants to coach high school football. His former coach at Ferris High, Jim Sharkey, says he has not spoken with Halliday about leaving football and that earlier this week he seemed excited for the chance to earn a roster spot.

I have reached out to Halliday and will update when we know more.

Update (3:55 p.m.): Halliday told 700 ESPN that he is not injured but has decided that he is done playing football.

Jacob Thorpe

S-R sports staff

Sports editor: Joe Palmquist

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