Trace McSorley’s journey with Penn State has always had a storybook feel to it - and now, more than a decade after he first suited up in blue and white, that story is coming full circle in the Bronx.
The former Nittany Lions quarterback - who once stood on the sidelines at Yankee Stadium as a redshirt freshman during the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl - is now returning to the same venue, this time in a very different role. McSorley has taken the reins of Penn State’s quarterback room in the lead-up to the team's Dec. 27 matchup with Clemson, stepping up after Danny O’Brien left the program to join Virginia Tech’s staff.
For McSorley, this isn’t just a temporary fill-in gig. It’s the latest step in a transition that’s been in the works for a while.
After bouncing around the NFL for several seasons, he officially joined Penn State’s staff this year as an assistant quarterbacks coach. Now, with O’Brien gone, he’s the guy leading the charge in that room - and according to those inside the program, he’s already making a real impact.
Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer made that clear this week, praising McSorley’s presence and leadership.
“He’s doing a really good job kinda keeping things steady,” Grunkemeyer said. “And adding in what he thinks and his expertise from playing in the NFL and playing here at a high level.”
That blend of experience - college success, professional reps, and an intimate understanding of what it means to wear the Penn State uniform - makes McSorley a natural fit for this role. His transition from player to coach has been smooth, and his presence in the room is already being felt.
Back in April, then-head coach James Franklin spoke about McSorley’s coaching potential, saying the move had been in the works for a couple of years.
“We’ve been talking the last couple years that he was probably going to get into coaching, whether that was at the NFL level or with us,” Franklin said. “We had an opportunity open up and presented it to him, and had some good discussions on what it would look like. And he’s been great.”
Danny O’Brien echoed that sentiment before his departure, calling McSorley’s return to the QB room “seamless.”
“This isn’t one of those things where because of a title, I talk and then you talk after,” O’Brien said. “We’re in this thing together.
Our job is to get those guys better. So anything he can add - which is obviously a ton - it’s made our room better.”
The quarterback room has certainly needed the support. With Drew Allar injured and moving on, and both Jaxon Smolik and Bekkem Kritza dealing with injuries of their own, the position has been in flux.
Grunkemeyer, who’s still weighing his future, said there’s “nothing decided yet” about what’s next. Meanwhile, two freshmen - Kase Evans and Peyton Falzone - are set to join the team in 2026.
The long-term coaching picture is also evolving. Penn State is set to bring in Jake Waters - a former Iowa State assistant under new head coach Matt Campbell - to take over as quarterbacks coach. What that means for McSorley’s future in State College remains to be seen.
But regardless of what comes next, McSorley’s impact on the program is already cemented.
Few quarterbacks in Penn State history have done what he did on the field. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, McSorley started 40 straight games, led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten title in 2016, and left as the school’s all-time leader in total yards, touchdowns accounted for, and wins by a starting quarterback.
His record as a starter? A rock-solid 31-9, with trips to the Rose Bowl and a Fiesta Bowl win to his name.
After his college career wrapped with a Citrus Bowl appearance, McSorley entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. Over the next few years, he bounced around the league - suiting up for the Ravens, Cardinals, Bears, Patriots, Steelers, and Commanders. His only NFL start came with Arizona, and he finished his pro career with 502 passing yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions.
Even while chasing that NFL dream, McSorley never drifted far from Happy Valley. He was spotted around the program last season, quietly staying connected to the team and its players. Now, he’s back in the building in an official capacity - and by all accounts, it’s been a perfect fit.
“Trace is an unbelievable person,” interim head coach Terry Smith said earlier this year. “What we saw in Trace as a player, he’s that as a person.
He’s a great mentor for our quarterback room. It’s a blessing to have him in the building.”
As Penn State gears up for another Pinstripe Bowl appearance, McSorley’s full-circle moment is more than just a sentimental storyline - it’s a sign of how deeply woven he still is into the fabric of this program. Whether he stays on staff long-term or takes his next step elsewhere, one thing’s clear: McSorley is already making his mark in this next chapter, just like he did in the last.