FSU football’s Ethan Pritchard shares biggest goal after gunshot wound
Ethan Pritchard, who was shot in August 2025, continues his recovery journey and shares his goals for the upcoming season.
Nearly a year after surviving a gunshot wound to the head, Ethan Pritchard is back on the sidelines with Florida State football at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Pritchard was greeted by a stadium-wide war chant as he led the Seminoles onto the field ahead of the season opener against New Mexico State. The sophomore linebacker was a victim in a case of mistaken identity when he was shot in the back of the head while driving family members home from a family gathering.
Pritchard told the Tallahassee Democrat in June that he would walk out of the tunnel with his FSU teammates in Week 0. And that promise is now fulfilled.
“I will tell you that I’m going to walk out there on the field, come first game,” Pritchard said. “I feel like I already beat the hard part. I beat death. This is just getting my body back.”
He had emergency surgery in Tallahassee and spent weeks in recovery before being transferred to medical care in Jacksonville for further rehabilitation. This isn’t the first time Pritchard has been back to Doak, as he was on hand for the Seminoles’ win over Virginia Tech last season.
A video posted on social media by Orlando-based reporter Stewart Moore showed Pritchard walking under his own power prior to the game with a brace on his lower right leg. Over the summer, a Facebook post by Pritchard’s family went viral after showing him taking multiple steps without the use of his walker.
Both moments showcased the significant recovery that Pritchard has gone through, and his walk to the sidelines ahead of kickoff on Saturday is another significant achievement in a miracle recovery.
What channel is Florida State vs New Mexico State on today?
Florida State football schedule 2026
An * indicates conference games
vs. New Mexico State | Aug. 29
vs. SMU* | Sept. 7
Bye
at Alabama | Sept. 19
vs. Central Arkansas | Sept. 26
vs. Virginia* | Oct. 3
at Louisville* | Oct. 9
at Miami* | Oct. 17
Bye
vs. Clemson* | Oct. 31
at Boston College* | Nov. 7
at Pittsburgh* | Nov. 13
vs. NC State* | Nov. 21
vs. Florida | Nov. 27
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.