Former Gamecock Football Great Hospitalized

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by WILL FOLKS

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One of South Carolina‘s most celebrated football players was hospitalized in the Palmetto Upstate after he reportedly collapsed while coaching his 9-year-old son’s youth team at an event in Simpsonville, S.C.

Connor Shaw, the winningest quarterback in Gamecock history, was reportedly transported by ambulance to Prisma Health Memorial in Greenville, S.C. following the incident.

“Pray for Conner Shaw, he is on the field and they have been trying to revive him,” Jason Adams of Greenville, S.C. posted to X on Wednesday evening (September 17, 2025). “Not looking good.”

Adams subsequently noted volunteer responders and emergency medical technicians “got him back.” Another witness posted to social media that Shaw was “responsive when they got him into the ambulance.” Another indicated the former Gamecock great had been “revived” following his collapse.

“I was there, super impressed by many volunteers who stepped in and helped him as they waited on firefighters to get there,” Upstate resident Chad Smith wrote on Facebook. “It was a scary sight for sure.”

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News of Shaw’s hospitalization was first reported by Jackson Castellano of The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper. According to a statement issued by the city of Simpsonville, Shaw was “responsive” and reportedly listed in “stable” condition in the aftermath of the incident, which took place at Gracely Park – a public park approximately 12 miles southeast of downtown Greenville.

Shaw reportedly collapsed about fifteen minutes into his son’s game, the city confirmed.

“The Simpsonville parks and recreation department and city of Simpsonville have Mr. Shaw and his family in our thoughts and prayers and wish Mr. Shaw a full and speedy recovery,” a statement from the city noted.

Shaw, 33, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, played four seasons at South Carolina from 2010-2013 under former head coach Steve Spurrier – taking over the starting job from another Gamecock legend, Stephen Garcia, midway through the 2011 season. In his two-and-a-half years as a starter, Shaw posted a 27-5 record – including a perfect 17-0 record at Williams-Brice Stadium, a perfect 3-0 record against arch-rival Clemson and an unblemished 3-0 mark in bowl games.

Shaw threw for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns during his three years as the Gamecocks’ starter – and ran for another 1,638 yards and 17 touchdowns – leading the team to three consecutive top ten finishes.

He closed out his remarkable collegiate career with a monster game in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin – throwing three touchdowns, rushing for another score and catching a touchdown pass while accounting for 368 total yards of offense in the Gamecocks’ decisive victory over the Badgers.

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While Shaw was not drafted, he signed with the Cleveland Browns and made one start for them in December of 2014 – completing 14 of 28 passes for 177 yards and an interception against the Baltimore Ravens, one of the league’s toughest defenses. Following a season-ending thumb injury during the 2015 preseason, Shaw was released by the Browns and claimed on waivers by the Chicago Bears in 2016. Another preseason injury in 2016 cost Shaw his shot with his new team – and he was eventually released by Chicago in 2017 without having appeared in a single regular season game.

Shaw was elected to the Gamecock Hall of Fame in 2021 and spent two years in administrative roles with the program from 2020-2021. Prior to that, he coached one year at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

Social media was flooded with prayers and well wishes for Shaw and his family following the initial reports of his collapse.

“Prayers up for Connor Shaw,” his former teammate Mike Davis wrote on X.

Clemson fans joined the chorus of support for Shaw.

“I’m a Clemson fan but I ain’t got no shame in admitting (Shaw) was the best quarterback I’ve seen play for my rival,” the popular X account Clemson Pepe noted. “Straight up baller. Prayers for Connor Shaw, man.”

Shaw and his wife, Molly Shaw, have three children and reside in the Upstate after formerly living in Lexington, S.C.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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