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Michigan TE Zack Marshall apologises after leaked texts criticise offensive coordinator Jason Beck

Michigan tight end Zack Marshall apologised on X after group-chat messages attributed to him, criticising offensive coordinator Jason Beck after a loss at Minnesota, leaked. Newsweek, citing ESPN, reports the coaching staff has addressed it with him.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Newsweek
Image: IJR

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Right · 1Michigan senior tight end Zack Marshall posted an apology on X on Tuesday 6 October after screenshots of group-chat messages attributed to him began circulating. Centre · 1The messages were sent after Michigan's 20-14 loss at Minnesota, its second straight defeat, and criticised offensive coordinator Jason Beck and the team's offensive scheme. Centre · 1The messages said Beck told the tight ends none of them were valuable to the offense, that the offense had no answers to blitzes, and that Beck told quarterback Bryce Underwood where to go on every play, adding that Underwood is a good quarterback but Beck is a problem. One message also said the author never said this and it should not leave the chat.

Centre · 1In his apology, Marshall said he made inappropriate comments he regrets in the hours after the loss, pointed fingers instead of taking accountability, and let his frustration speak for him. He apologised to teammates and coaches for the unnecessary drama and said he would keep giving everything for the program. Mixed · 2According to ESPN, as relayed by Newsweek, the Michigan coaching staff knows about the leaked messages and has addressed the incident with Marshall. IJR says it is unclear whether he will face discipline. Right · 1Marshall has appeared in all five games and started against UTEP, but has no catches in 2026 after 16 for 199 yards and a touchdown in 2025. Michigan's tight ends have nine catches for 65 yards combined and no touchdowns.

Centre · 1The offense has struggled: Newsweek says Michigan ranks 105th nationally in scoring (23 points per game) and 122nd in yards per game (315.8). Michigan is 3-2 in the first five games under coach Kyle Whittingham, who succeeded Sherrone Moore. Right · 1IJR adds that Whittingham indicated changes were coming and that, in August, Marshall had described the offense as a beautiful thing built to have answers for everything. It notes outlets differ on the Minnesota score, 20-14 or 20-13.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Frames the apology as a flashpoint in a struggling Whittingham-era season, quoting the apology and several leaked messages in full.
Emphasis
Marshall's full statement, the leaked quotes, ESPN's report that staff addressed it, and the offense's rankings.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention Marshall's lack of catches or Whittingham's hint at changes.
Charged language
“trashing”“throwing his coaches under the bus”“incriminating”
For example
“Marshall issued a public apology for throwing his coaches under the bus.” — Newsweek
“A few of the incriminating messages are below.” — Newsweek

Right1 outlet

Framing
A compact news brief paraphrasing the messages and putting Marshall's own production (zero catches) in the foreground.
Emphasis
Marshall's stats, tight-end production, offense rankings, open question of discipline and Whittingham's signal of changes.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not quote the apology in full or mention ESPN's report that staff addressed it with Marshall. The text also carries an unrelated item about another case.
Charged language
“leaked chats”
For example
“with zero catches in 2026 after 16 for 199 yards and a touchdown in 2025” — IJR
“Whether Marshall faces discipline remains unclear.” — IJR