Why Penn State legend Trace McSorley is destined for coaching success

Trace McSorley did a little bit of everything on Tuesday night. The Penn State legend gave footwork advice to the backup quarterbacks. He acted as a defender during walkthroughs. He even wore a padded fist, swatting at running backs during ball security drills.

McSorley, a Big Ten champion and program record holder, will forever be a fan favorite. But now that his playing career is over, McSorley has entered the next stage of his life.

McSorley joined Penn State’s coaching staff as an assistant quarterbacks coach in late February. The Nittany Lions great and six-year NFL veteran will work with quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien while reuniting with James Franklin for his first foray into coaching.

“You guys know how I feel about Trace and his whole family,” Franklin said Tuesday. “Trace is a special guy to me and a special guy to Penn State, our history and our tradition.”

Franklin said he had discussions with McSorley over the last couple of years about entering the coaching ranks. McSorley “chased his dream as long as he thought it made sense in the NFL,” Franklin said, before deciding to join the Nittany Lions this offseason.

McSorley had a memorable three-year run as Penn State’s QB1. He won a Big Ten title in 2016 and finished his collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in wins, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Four-year starter Sean Clifford later eclipsed those marks.

McSorley was a 2019 sixth-round pick and a three-year backup with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before bouncing around with the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Last August, McSorley spent a few days with the Washington Commanders in the preseason, got cut and wasn’t picked up. McSorley’s playing career ran its course.

Joe Moorhead, McSorley’s offensive coordinator at Penn State, understands how difficult it can be to come to grips with that. Moorhead, now the head coach at Akron, played quarterback for the Munich Cowboys in Germany in the late 1990s. After that, he made one final go of it with the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League but was cut in training camp.

“At that point, I knew I was not Kurt Warner. I wanted to keep trying, but it felt like an exercise of futility,” Moorhead told PennLive. “However many hours it was to drive from Milwaukee back to Pittsburgh, I didn’t think a human being could cry for that many consecutive hours. You’re stripped of your identity. It’s a huge void to fill. Then you just think, ‘What’s next?’

“Using the term ‘retired’ might be inaccurate because that means you did it on your own terms. When somebody tells you you’re no longer part of the team, and then no one signs you, then it’s time to move on with your life’s work. And I think the next best thing for people who played and who can no longer do so is to be a coach.”

Moorhead said he’s “incredibly excited” to see McSorley, his former protege, embark on this new chapter. The two teamed up, along with Saquon Barkley, to produce big wins, explosive offenses and countless highlight reel moments in 2016 and 2017. In that time, Moorhead and McSorley built an unbreakable bond, something they still cherish to this day.

McSorley is also now the latest Moorhead disciple to enter the coaching ranks. Joe Brady, a graduate assistant at Penn State under Moorhead in 2016, is the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator. Former Penn State walk-on quarterbacks Billy Fessler and Michael Shuster are quarterbacks coaches at Ohio State and Akron, respectively. And now there’s McSorley.

“Like most of us whose careers end, it’s a natural progression,” Moorhead said. “The qualities that usually define a great player translates into being a great coach. I remember a lot of times people referring to Trace as a coach on the field. So he’s already been described as a coach in one regard, and now he’s officially been bestowed the title as he begins his career.”

Franklin said Drew Allar and the rest of Penn State’s quarterbacks are going to benefit greatly from McSorley’s tutelage. He thrived at the college level. He has experience working with several NFL franchises and coaches. He understands Franklin’s program, the culture and what it takes to succeed as a Penn State quarterback better than anyone.

Moorhead added that McSorley just has that “it factor.” He always has. And Moorhead believes that will translate into success as a coach for as long as McSorley wants.

“Trace is always at his best when his best is needed,” Moorhead said. “I don’t care if it was a White Out game against Michigan, the Big Ten championship against Wisconsin or if you sat down and played a game of rocks, paper, scissors, he was going to find a way to win.

“He has it. It’s hard to put a finger on it. But when you see it, it’s almost impossible to ignore.”