Fans Call for Michigan to Cut Ties After Leaked Texts from Tight End

Ahead of Week 6, drama is brewing in Ann Arbor over leaked texts from Michigan senior tight end Zack Marshall, according to www.profootballnetwork.com. The messages were sent to a group chat after Michigan's loss to Minnesota and later leaked, per the source.

In the texts, Marshall did not hold back on the offense or offensive coordinator Jason Beck. "Basically our offense sucks cause if you blitz us we have no answers… we have an extra OL on the field every play and run different versions of power read every play 🤡. Also beck tells Bryce where to go on every play and it gets strapped. Bryce is a good qb, beck is a problem. (I never said this and this better not ever leave this group chat)," he wrote, referencing quarterback Bryce Underwood and Beck.

The conversation was shared on October 5, 2026, by @CollegeFBPortal, which called it "WILD." The post set off a wave of fan anger, with reactions per the source including "Kick Him Off the Team" and "Not Sure How You Keep Him."

How the texts were leaked—or who leaked them—has not been confirmed.

APOLOGY AND REACTION

Marshall later publicly apologized on X, according to the source. "Last weekend, in the hours after we lost, I made some inappropriate comments that I regret. This game is won and lost as a team, and I pointed fingers instead of taking accountability. I let my frustrations speak for me in an emotional moment. I apologize to my teammates and coaches for the unnecessary drama that this has caused. I will always be proud to represent Michigan and will continue to give everything I have for this program. I love Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, and Team 147," he wrote.

The apology came only after it was initially unclear whether Marshall had actually made the comments, per the source. Once the texts were verified, the senior tight end moved quickly to own them publicly.

But the damage had already been done. The apology did not appear to quell fan demands for Michigan to cut ties, according to the source. The wave of reactions that followed the leak—"Kick Him Off the Team" and "Not Sure How You Keep Him" among them—showed no sign of cooling.

The source notes that opinions of the senior "aren’t exactly in his favor." Whether Marshall can repair that reputation before Week 6 remains an open question.