Columbus native and Michigan star announces retirement from football

Ernest Hauptmann announced that he is medically retiring from football on Face book Saturday.

Hauptmann was a team captain this season and missed Michigan’s last three games of the season due to undisclosed reasons.

In early December, Hauptmann  made a Face book post regarding an incident he had with a Michigan staff member regarding his faith.

In the post Hauptmann said, “I thought I would receive guidance and clarity, as it was a life-changing experience. After hearing what I had to say, I got put in the category of a mental patient who is going to end their life. If anyone has a clue who I was, they know that’s the last thing I would ever do.”

At Michigan, Hauptmann won a national title in 2023, earned multiple All-Big Ten selections, and was a Jason Mitten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist in 2025.

Hauptmann attended Columbus High School and played at Nebraska his freshman year before transferring to Michigan.