Miami QB Brett Gabbert is poised to make a comeback at the Arizona Bowl

The fifth-year senior at Miami (Ohio) suffered a horrific injury, breaking the tibia and fibula in his right leg against Toledo on Oct. 21, 2023.

“The most gruesome thing I’ve ever been a part of,” RedHawks coach Chuck Martin recalled.

Martin tried to comfort his veteran quarterback as trainers and medical staff surrounded him. The scene was surreal. Gabbert was in agony.

“I remember laying on the field,” he said. “I was like, ‘Dang, is this really how I’m going out?'”

This was not how Gabbert wanted his story to end. He had already recovered from a broken left collarbone and a severe ankle sprain. He had come back to Miami after a brief stint on the transfer portal to finish his career there in the right way.

This wasn’t it. So Gabbert decided to go for it. Another comeback. One final season of college football.

Despite the pain and frustration – both physical and mental obstacles – Gabbert made it through to the other side. He has started all 13 games this season for the RedHawks and is on pace to make it 14 when Miami faces Colorado State in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Saturday.

As he practiced with his teammates Thursday morning at Arizona Stadium — slinging passes all over the court — Gabbert wore a long white sleeve on his right leg. It was the only sign of the trauma he had endured.

Miami trailed Toledo 21-10 late in the third quarter, but the RedHawks were just outside the door. They faced second-and-goal from the 2-yard line. The call was a QB run.

“I run into D-lineman, a bunch of big guys, O-line. It’s a big pileup,” Gabbert said. “My leg got caught and I got bent over. Unfortunately, I broke my tibia and fibula.”

Toledo defensive tackle Dommer Culpepper, listed at 6-4, 293 pounds, was credited with the tackle. Gabbert is listed at 6-foot, 210.

This was an unusually bad injury. Think Joe Theismann. Or Alex Smith. They only show that kind of damage once on TV. The kind that can end a career.

“I was sitting there on the court trying not to look at it and holding his hand,” Martin said. “He screamed. It was like a war movie.”

At that moment, Gabbert was ready to walk away — at least metaphorically. No one, including his coach, would have blamed him if he had.

“‘I’m done. I can’t do this anymore,'” Martin recalled Gabbert saying as his leg was cleaned, set and air cast. “I’m like, ‘I’m with you, bro.'”

When healthy, Gabbert had been Miami’s starter since 2019. That year, the younger brother of longtime NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert became the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback in program history. He was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.

Because the 2020 pandemic season does not count and he appeared in just four games in 2022 (clavicle, ankle), Brett Gabbert had one more year of eligibility. But as the next weeks unfolded, he didn’t feel it.

“I was bedridden for probably three weeks,” Gabbert said. “I couldn’t move my leg. I’m in a wheelchair. … I wasn’t even using crutches yet. I was pretty much helpless. I couldn’t do anything on my own. That was probably the hardest part.”

Gabbert had all but decided his football days were over. Then “someone special” sent him an inspiring text. He declined to say who it was. But the message “changed my perspective on the whole deal.”

“I was like, ‘You know what? I will regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t at least try to come back from this.’ So that’s what I did,” Gabbert said. “I gave it everything I had – knowing that I could give it everything I have and that it might not be enough.”

Rehab is no fun. It will test your patience and determination.

“We had to take it one step at a time,” Gabbert said. “There should be small victories. It was like, “Okay, you can bend your knee 10 more degrees.” That was a big win in my book.”

Gabbert repeatedly gave credit to everyone who helped him along the way, from first responders to doctors to physical therapists to trainers. He needed their encouragement at a time when it was so easy to feel discouraged. He really couldn’t have done it without them.

“They did everything perfectly,” Gabbert said. “They got me where I am today.”

Gabbert missed most of the offseason. He was cleared to play in the Aug. 31 opener at Northwestern. But he had another mental hurdle to clear: Taking a hit.

“It’s in the back of my mind,” Gabbert said. “Like, you hadn’t had a hit in a long time, and the last thing you did, you broke your leg in half.”

Fortunately, football is fast and furious. Once you’re on the field, there’s so much else to think about — especially for a quarterback. Gabbert got past that.

But he was not operating at full capacity after losing so much time. Through the first five games, Gabbert completed just 55.1% of his passes with a 5-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The RedHawks were 1-4.

Then Gabbert got hot — and so did Miami. The RedHawks won their last seven regular season games. During that stretch, Gabbert had a 60.9% completion rate with 16 touchdowns and three picks.

Gabbert finished the season with a career-best 2,737 passing yards. He was named first-team All-MAC. He ranks among the top three in school history in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense.

But one achievement stands above the rest.

“Everybody in Miami, more than anything, was just happy to see Brett Gabbert make it through 14 games,” Martin said.

Why did RedHawks fans root for Gabbert so hard? Because loyalty is a two-way street.

Gabbert could have left Miami for a bigger school after his breakout season in 2021 (2,648 passing yards, 26-6 TD-INT). He could have gone after the injury-shortened ’22 campaign. If you’re a group of five player with talent, production and eligibility, that’s what you do today.

Gabbert actually entered the portal after the ’22 season. He had only played in four games that year. He had sustained two significant injuries.

“Nothing was going really well for me and I was just frustrated,” he said. “I was mad at the world. I was just mad.

“I made an impulse decision – something I regretted.”

Gabbert quickly realized he had made a “stupid” choice. Why?

“There are 130 teams in FBS football,” he said. “So I’m one of 130 people in the world who’s going to be a starter for a college football team.”

Gabbert would not have had such guarantees at another school. There is something to be said for appreciating what you have, where you are.

“Yeah, exactly,” Gabbert said. “I took for granted what I had and … I realized that very quickly.”

Gabbert removed himself from the portal. He returned to Miami—he never really left—with a renewed sense of purpose:

“I want to be here. I made a commitment to Miami. I want to stay here. I want to live up to that commitment.”

Now, Gabbert gets another opportunity to wear the red and white with his teammates. A little over a year ago, that possibility was not promised.

“It means everything,” Gabbert said. “Can’t wait.”