Jordan Travis Bio
Jordan Travis (born May 2, 2000) is an American former professional football quarterback who played college football at both Louisville and Florida State before being selected by the New York Jets in the 2024 NFL Draft. Travis earned national recognition during his senior season at Florida State, where he won ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 while leading the Seminoles to a conference championship. A severe leg injury suffered in November 2023 ended his college career and ultimately prompted his retirement from professional football in April 2025.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Travis was born on May 2, 2000, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He attended Palm Beach Central High School before transferring to The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, where he graduated in 2018. During his high school career, Travis established himself as a notable dual-threat quarterback, earning a ranking of No. 24 dual-threat quarterback in his class by 247Sports. His athletic prowess extended beyond football, as his brother Devon Travis played baseball at Florida State under legendary coach Mike Martin.
College Career
Travis began his collegiate journey by committing to play for the Louisville Cardinals, choosing them over the Baylor Bears. His time at Louisville was brief, appearing in just three games where he completed 4 of 14 passing attempts and gained 40 yards rushing. In November 2018, Travis announced his decision to transfer from Louisville.
On December 22, 2018, Travis announced his commitment to transfer to Florida State University. He joined the Seminoles under head coach Willie Taggart but did not see significant playing time until Taggart was replaced. Over five seasons with Florida State from 2019 to 2023, Travis developed into one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in program history. He became the first Florida State starting quarterback to win three games against rival Miami, establishing himself as a dynamic playmaker in the ACC.
Jordan Travis Career
Florida State Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Travis steadily improved during his time with the Seminoles, eventually earning the starting quarterback role. As a redshirt junior and senior, he led Florida State to back-to-back ten-win seasons, showcasing his ability to make plays both through the air and on the ground. His senior season in 2023 proved to be his most remarkable campaign, as he guided the Seminoles to an ACC Championship and became a dominant force in college football.
During the 2023 season, Travis was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, recognizing him among the nation’s elite quarterbacks. His exceptional performance earned him ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors, along with First-team All-ACC recognition. He also finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, placing behind eventual winner Jayden Daniels and other top contenders.
Injury and Season Ending
On November 18, 2023, Travis suffered a serious leg injury during a game against North Alabama. While fighting for extra yards, a defender used a tackle that caused Travis’s left ankle to twist awkwardly. Medical staff placed an air cast on his leg and he was carted off the field. Two days later, Travis announced that the injury was season-ending and would also mark the conclusion of his college football career.
The injury had far-reaching consequences for Florida State. Without Travis, the Seminoles became the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to be excluded from the College Football Playoff. CFP Selection Committee chairman Boo Corrigan acknowledged that the team was fundamentally different without their quarterback, a decision that generated significant controversy across the college football landscape.
New York Jets Era (2024)
Despite the injury concerns, Travis declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round with the 171st overall pick. He was subsequently placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on August 27, 2024, as he continued rehabilitation from his college injury.
Retirement Announcement
After spending the entire 2024 season focused on rehabilitation, Travis received news that the recovery had been unsuccessful and that medical professionals advised him to retire from football. On April 30, 2025, he officially announced his retirement from professional football through a handwritten note, citing the severe leg injury sustained in November 2023 as the reason for his decision to step away from the sport.
Jordan Travis Awards and Achievements
Throughout his football career, Jordan Travis accumulated numerous accolades at both the conference and national levels. His accomplishments reflect his status as one of the top quarterbacks in Florida State history and a standout player in the ACC during his senior season.
College Awards
Travis’s most prestigious recognition came during his senior season in 2023 when he was named ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year. He earned First-team All-ACC honors in 2023 and previously received Second-team All-ACC recognition in 2022. His 2023 campaign also saw him finish fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and become a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, solidifying his place among college football’s elite quarterbacks that year.
Records and Milestones
Among his notable accomplishments, Travis became the first Florida State starting quarterback to defeat Miami three times during his career. He led the Seminoles to multiple ten-win seasons and an ACC Championship during his tenure as starting quarterback, establishing a winning culture at a program seeking to return to national prominence.
Jordan Travis Family
Family Background
Jordan Travis comes from an athletic family, with his brother Devon Travis having played baseball at Florida State University under legendary coach Mike Martin. This family connection to Florida State athletics provided Jordan with additional ties to the program during his recruitment and eventual transfer to join the Seminoles.
2025 Season Performance
Following his selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jordan Travis spent the entire season rehabilitating the leg injury sustained during his final college game. Despite the Jets’ investment in selecting him, the extensive recovery process proved unsuccessful in restoring full function. The unsuccessful rehabilitation led medical professionals to recommend retirement, concluding his professional football career before he could take a single regular-season snap with the organization that drafted him.