Texas football safety Michael Taaffe won’t be suiting up for the Longhorns when they play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31, a team spokesperson confirmed to the American-Statesman on Monday afternoon.
Taaffe announced Monday morning that he intended to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft — the only true option for Taaffe with his collegiate eligibility expiring.
But he’ll be passing on a chance to play one more game in burnt orange, prioritizing his health as he prepares for the pre-draft process.
After heavily considering the draft last cycle, Taaffe instead decided to return to Texas for the 2025 campaign. He received All-American honors for the second consecutive season, finishing with 70 tackles and two interceptions, even while missing out on two games due to a broken thumb suffered against Kentucky.
A former walk-on and Austin native, Taaffe finishes his Texas career with 222 tackles and seven interceptions.
The Longhorns could find themselves reaching down the depth chart quite a bit at safety when they meet the Wolverines in Orlando. Derek Williams Jr., another safety, will reportedly enter the transfer portal, leaving Texas thin. It could be a chance for five-star freshman Jonah Williams to get some reps.