Cade McNamara confirms he will return to Iowa in 2024

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara has confirmed that he will be returning to Iowa for the 2024 college football season.

Earlier this season, McNamara suffered a season-ending injury against Michigan State, cutting his year short and making his decision to return that much easier. He released a statement alongside his announcement:

“Was not anticipating posting one of these when this year began however, there are some things in life that can not be explained but the best we can do is put our faith in God and follow the path that he has chosen for us,” McNamara wrote on Instagram.

“I want to thank everyone for all the love and support. The road ahead is a rigorous one but nothing I haven’t overcome before. I can’t wait to get back to Iowa City to support my teammates for the rest of this season! I had a vision when I decided to come to Iowa and that vision remains the same. There is still a lot I want to accomplish in the Black and Gold and look forward to bringing it to life in the 2024 season.

“Go Hawks!”

The news shouldn’t come as a surprise to most Hawkeye fans, as Brad Heinrichs, the CEO of Iowa’s NIL Collective, Swarm Collective, revealed earlier this month that McNamara’s time in Iowa City isn’t over just yet.

He was very matter-of-fact in his answer, proving his confidence and it ultimately came true. It also means that money talks.

“Cade’s going to fulfill his end of the bargain on his NIL deal and get paid handsomely,” Heinrichs said in an interview with The Morning Drive on KXnO radio. “I can tell you, in talking with him and his father, he’s coming back next year. We’re gonna be loaded to bear next fall with Cade McNamara — a healthy Cade McNamara — under center.”

Before his injury, McNamara entered the Michigan State game with 459 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions while completing just 50.6 percent of his pass attempts on the year. Those numbers are less than impressive, but factoring in a lingering leg injury that he was nursing throughout fall camp — his struggles are justified.

He wasn’t healthy this season, and Iowa’s big bucks are obviously behind supporting another season of McNamara being the Hawkeye’s signal caller. If healthy, he will be back on the field on Aug. 31, 2024 for the season opener against Illinois State.