Illinois Football: Was Coach Bret Bielema Worried About Losing his Quarterback?

Despite recent rumors swirling around the Illini social media world about quarterback Luke Altmyer potentially entering the transfer portal to explore an SEC option, the star gunslinger has shut down the speculation—confirming he’ll return to Illinois Football in 2025.

It’s certainly more than welcome news for Bret Bielema, who gets to keep his offensive centerpiece for another season.

But was the Illini head coach ever worried about losing his quarterback? Not even a little.

pic.twitter.com/FDBmhr27gA

— Luke Altmyer (@lukealtmyer9) April 22, 2025

Bielema Adresses the Swirling Rumors Surrounding the Illinois Football QB

For Bielema, it’s simple: there’s still work to be done with Altmyer—to not only get Illinois Football ready for a potentially special 2025 season, but to further prepare Luke for his future NFL career beyond the walls of Memorial Stadium.

When asked if Bret was worried about losing Luke to the Transfer Portal, he stated: “0.0%……Because of the person you guys know he is.”

“I think the outside world will say it. But, did I ever have a concern? I had more concern probably in the NFL than I did college. Especially when his draft grade game back a six—I’m like, well, listen…. we could jump this up,” stated the Illini coach.

Why Bielema Believes One More Year with Illinois Football is Key for Luke

“But again, when you know Luke, and you work with Luke, and you’re around Luke, his intentionality to his purpose is really… really high. And, I think he puts a premium on people,” said Bielema. “One of the things I have to do to really help him in that next transition he’s going to have without me. I’m not going to be the head coach of his NFL team when he makes that jump. He’s going to have to know what’s coming at him before that moment arrives, because it’s going to be different than the one he navigated now. But, the transition he made from Ole Miss to here is going to help him, just like that next transition (to the NFL) will be. But, I mean that with all due respect.” 

He continued, “His conversation was nothing more than “what do you think coach (Barry) Lunney is going to do?”…. Of course, I was in the middle of contract negotiations for him. Everybody was in the middle of contract negotiations. So, I was in the middle of it with Barry Lunney. Art (Sitkowski) I had already made a plan to retain him, because I knew two NFL team had try to come after him. So, that was there. He (Luke) really wanted to know what our plan was at wide receiver. Obviously, he liked the groth of that room, it’s been incredible. Added a couple of really good players. He wanted to know about the offensive line —and I said, “Hey, help me recruit JC Davis” …. So, that was a big part.”

Bielema closed, “Right now in the portal world, I would say 2 weeks before the portal came up, he hit me up. He’s like, “coach – anybody you need me to contact, just let me know, I’ll  do it. So, he’s been thinking about this moment, I think way before anyone else had.”

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