Cade McNamara goes on record about Michigan in first post-transfer interview

Cade McNamara is a Michigan football legend for helping guide the team to new heights in 2021. But as 2022 wraps up, he is no longer a Wolverine. The former team captain transferred to Iowa last week and is now on the record for the first time since leaving Ann Arbor.

McNamara transferred in large part because he finished 2nd in the quarterback battle to sophomore J.J. McCarthy, who has U-M sitting at 13-0 and in the College Football Playoff for the 2nd consecutive year. Michigan’s quarterback competition extended into the regular season, where McNamara was unable take the reigns of the job in the opener, giving way to McCarthy.

McNamara, now an Iowa Hawkeye, spoke with Jordan Palmer and Kyle Allen on “The Room” podcast to discuss his time at Michigan and much more, giving an inside look at what transpired from his perspective. It was a time of highs and lows, he says.

“I mean, I thought a low was a redshirt-freshman year — then, here I am with just a completely new perspective,” McNamara said.

“Last year was the highest high. There was some attention going the other way, but it kind of forced me to play my best ball. Especially when it came down to it was 3rd down. I grew a ton in that area. Obviously not being a solidified starter until the year before, then even if I got taken out on first and second down for run plays if that’s how they used [McCarthy], it would force me whether I liked it or not… you started a drive so you still have to finish it.

“Overall, last season was awesome. There are times where I think I shouldn’t have gotten pulled. There are times when I could have helped the team in a better way. Those are some of the lows.”

Inside Michigan’s quarterback competition

The decision on how to handle the quarterback competition was controversial to some, but ultimately wound up costing McNamara his job despite doing nothing to lose it. McCarthy rewarded his head coach’s faith in him, matching McNamara’s wins over Ohio State and Big Ten Championship and throwing for 2,376 yards with 20 touchdowns and 3 picks on the season.

“I was well aware there was going to be competition,” McNamara said. “That’s just how coach Harbaugh has always stated it. That’s how he’s always treated it, and that’s fine with me. When I was earning my way up, that’s how I wanted it to be anyways.

“Spring ball was alright. J.J. didn’t participate in the spring, so I had all of spring ball which was pretty fun. Going into camp, coach made it a 100% even competition. Then, a big high before things started to go low was that I got voted by my team as a captain. It is my biggest honor and accomplishment.

“Then the day after I get voted captain, coach Harbaugh tells the team that Michigan has two starting quarterbacks and we’re going to be splitting games,” McNamara said. “I have the first game and he has the second game. Some stuff is going on, talk-around-the-team stuff — some stuff that I just won’t get into.

“I get the first game and I play pretty decently [9-for-18, 136 yards, TD]. We win by like 50 because the start of our schedule was kind of a joke. J.J. goes in against Hawaii and plays really well, I will say that. Harbaugh just decided to announce it after the game in his media press conference that J.J. was going to be the starter going forward.”

What came next

The end of the McNamara era was abrupt and ended right before halftime of the UConn game on Sept. 17. He was inserted into the game for a 2-minute drill right before halftime – “pissed,” as he put it – and injured his MCL and reaggravated a patellar injury.

“I completely messed it up, I tore my MCL,” McNamara said. “I didn’t know this until my MCL was messed up, but I tore my patellar halfway through the season last year, actually against Michigan State. That’s a whole story in itself.”

The UConn game would be the last time he took the field as a Wolverine. McNamara spent portions of the early part of the season on the sideline, but eventually removed himself from football activities, underwent surgery on his knee and has been rehabbing in California ever since.

He will now lead an Iowa offense that was historically pedestrian by their standards in 2022. McNamara, who threw for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for the Wolverines in 2021, does not want the “game manager” label and wants to lead Iowa to new heights.

“I don’t want to be labeled as a game manager anymore,” McNamara said. “I understand the offense that Iowa has had in the past, but they made it extremely clear that we’re not looking to stay this way. We are well aware that we need to change in order to make us contenders again for the Big Ten championship.

“For me, that was such an intriguing opportunity — because not only are they looking to change, but I’m looking to change the perception of my own game as well.”