Pitt QB Nick Patti announces his playing career is over

Nick Patti’s game-winning drive in the Sun Bowl against UCLA will forever be the highlight of his Pitt career — and it also serves as the final highlight.

Patti will not use his increased COVID-19 eligibility to play at Pitt or anywhere else in 2023, he announced via Instagram on Saturday. After five varsity seasons, he will retire from college football.

“Thank you to this amazing game for giving me the best friends and memories anyone could ever ask for,” Patti wrote on Instagram.

Photo from Nick Patti’s Instagram account.

In four seasons at Pitt, Patti completed 71-of-128 pass attempts (55.5%) for 783 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 133 rushing yards and four more touchdowns.

Patti started in the Peach Bowl in the 2021 season after Kenny Pickett decided to prepare for the NFL, but when he jumped into the end zone for a 16-yard field goal, he ended up breaking his collarbone in the first quarter.

He returned from injury this season to battle USC transfer Kedon Slovis for the starting job, which he ultimately lost, and was injured in Pitt’s Week 2 game against Tennessee — missing more time. He played in garbage time against Virginia in November without attempting a pass.

But when he was called into action in the Sun Bowl against UCLA in December, making just his third start at Pitt, he delivered.

In the huge win, Patti completed 20 of 41 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 72 yards on 10 rushing attempts.

It was a fitting end to the career of Patti, a Pitt man who may never have had the chance to start at Pitt but made the most of his last opportunity.

“I never thought I’d leave, even though Kenny was gone, we brought in Kedon, I just had all the confidence in the world,” Patti said after the Sun Bowl. “Obviously it didn’t go my way, but like you said, it was great to get the win today just in a big moment.”

FIGHT 🎶 PITT 🎶 FIGHT#H2P » @TonyTheTigerSB pic.twitter.com/wCRWPbq4ZH

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 31, 2022