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Former Ohio State Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord hit with his first bit of rough news in his NFL career

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Ohio State’s quarterback decision became a crucial one following the 2023 season when Kyle McCord chose to leave Columbus. Landing Will Howard proved to be the right move, ultimately leading the Buckeyes to a national championship.

McCord, meanwhile, made the right call for himself by transferring to Syracuse. He had a strong season with the Orange and was selected in the sixth round of April’s NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, McCord had been battling for a spot in what is considered one of the NFL’s deepest quarterback rooms, led by Jalen Hurts. Unfortunately for the former Buckeye, things didn’t work out as planned.

Kyle McCord released by the Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles released McCord as they worked their roster down to 53 players ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline. He had been competing for the third-string spot behind Hurts and Tanner McKee, but the Eagles ultimately decided to move on from their rookie and traded for Sam Howell.

The #Eagles are releasing rookie QB Kyle McCord, per a league source.

The 6th-round pick out of Syracuse had a good training camp, but Philly already has 3 QBs on its roster. pic.twitter.com/dQXWV0G9eY
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 25, 2025

In his lone season as Ohio State’s starter, McCord threw for 3,170 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. His production jumped significantly at Syracuse, where he passed for 4,779 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCord was steady for the Buckeyes until the loss to Michigan, which ultimately pushed Ohio State to look elsewhere at quarterback.

McCord is likely to land on a practice squad, possibly even returning to the Eagles in that role. The reality of the NFL is that roster cuts are a frequent part of life for players on the back end, and McCord is the latest example.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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