Pitt quarterback Nick Patti announces that he is done with football

The 2022 Sun Bowl legend calls it a career

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nick Patti is officially hanging up his cleats. While we knew that Patti wouldn’t be returning to Pitt, he made it official that the Panther’s blue and gold will be the only college colors he will ever wear.

Nick Patti may not have had many opportunities for the Panthers but did he make the most of his moment. Patti was a three-star prospect out of New Jersey who enrolled in the class of 2018. After being the backup to Kenny Pickett for most of his college career his first moment came against Michigan State in the 2021 Peach Bowl but after breaking his collarbone on a touchdown run he would again need to wait.

With Kedon Slovis making the transfer from USC, Patti again would wait for his chance to try to leave his mark. His first was playing injured against Tennessee and was able to score a game-tying touchdown to force overtime. The Panthers weren’t able to complete the comeback and lost to the Vols in overtime and again Patti would wait after having to miss time in a walking boot.

Finally just as it did the year before, Patti got his second chance at a bowl game. With Kedon Slovis opting out before his eventual transfer to BYU, Patti had one last moment to do what he came to Pitt to accomplish. With all the opt-outs and facing off against a high-scoring offense led by Dorian Thompson Robinson, the Panthers were going to need to be able to put points on the board.

Patti shined in his final start capped off by leading a game-winning drive with only 34 seconds left in the game with no timeouts remaining. The quarterback threw for 225 yards and a touchdown with 72 yards rushing. It was that final drive, where Patti was able to complete two first-down passes and also had the guts to rush for a first down, that will put him a part of Pitt lore for years to come.

With that, the signal caller’s career came to an end. Patti ends his career with a 55.5% completion percentage, 783 yards, and five touchdowns with just one interception over 15 appearances. Now Nick Patti will start a new journey after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. Still, both he and the Panthers fans will always have this game and this drive to look back on fondly.