Special Forces Star Shockingly Quits Just Hours Before Finishing Season 4

Find out why Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season four recruit Randall Cobb hit his breaking point and quit after an anxiety-inducing challenge on the last day of the Fox reality competition.

By Brett M Malec Nov 14, 2025 3:00 AM
| Updated Nov 14, 2025 4:07 PM
Tags
Watch: ‘Special Forces’ Star Shockingly Quits Just Hours Before Finishing Season 4

Randall Cobb has reached the end of his rope.

The retired NFL star made the shocking decision to quit season four of Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test a mere 12 hours before reaching the end of training camp.

So, what pushed the former footballer to suddenly walk away when he was so close to the finish line?

On the eighth and final day of the back-breaking competition, the six remaining recruits participated in a wartime simulation in which they had to split up into two teams of three and work together to locate a safe house in the Moroccan desert while avoiding capture from faux enemies. And if navigating the harsh, desolate terrain wasn't difficult enough, they had to find the safe path in the pitch black of the night.

After navigating nearly three miles of the course, Andrew East led Randall and Gia Giudice into enemy territory, making them a vulnerable target. And Randall was especially on edge during the nerve-wracking mock special forces mission.

As the 35-year-old admitted in a confessional, "I'm worried about freezing in situations I've never been in before."

photos
2026 TV Premiere Dates

Then, in the blink of an eye, the "enemy" forces surrounded Randall, Gia and Andrew and fake captured them, meaning their team failed the exercise.

During the staged attack, the three stars had their heads covered with sacks and their hands tied up with zip ties to simulate a real-life capture. And although it was simply a training exercise, the scenario felt too realistic for the athlete to carry on in the competition.

"V.W. V. W." Randall announced, signaling he was voluntarily withdrawing himself from the experience. "Please, please."

FOX

As he was being untied, the rattled ex-quarterback admitted, "It just felt too real. I completely panicked."

The feeling was one Special Forces director Mark "Billy" Billingham was all too familiar with.

"I've actually been captured," the military veteran reflected in a confessional. "It's the most scariest thing that's ever happened to me. Thoughts of family, everything's going through your head at 100 miles an hour. You have no idea what's coming next."

And while Billy could sympathize with Randall's decision to quit, the other directing staff were disappointed by his last-minute departure.

As Rodolpho "Rudy" Reyes lamented while watching the exercise from afar, "I can't believe he's V.W.'d. He was one of the strongest recruits we had. It's a shame to see him go."

read
Kody Brown Brought to Tears by Robyn Brown on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

Randall's exit came with just 12 hours left in the competition, meaning only five recruits—Andrew, Gia, Kody Brown, Shawn Johnson and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia—will move on to the final and hardest phase: Capture and interrogation.

As Billy teased in a preview for next week's season finale, "12 hours of absolute mental and physical hell. You've just got to keep biting the bullet, just keep going and keep going until you are told 'this is it.'"

See the remaining five celebs make it to the end of the competition when Special Forces: World's Toughest Test airs Thursday at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Keep reading to see the final five recruits still fighting, plus the 13 stars who already exited this season.

Brittany Cartwright: Quit Day 1

TV Personality

Eva Marcille: Discharged Day 2

Actress & Model

Teresa Giudice: Quit Day 2

TV Personality

Jussie Smollett: Medically Withdrawn Day 3

Actor/Singer

Johnny Manziel: Quit Day 4

Heisman Winner and Former NFL Quarterback

Nick Young: Quit Day 5

NBA Champion

Ravi V. Patel: Quit Day 5

Actor

Chanel Iman: Withdrawn Day 6

Supermodel

Eric Decker: Medically Withdrawn Day 6

Former NFL Player

Jessie James Decker: Quit Day 6

Country Music Artist

Mark Estes: Medically Withdrawn Day 7

Internet Personality

Christie Pearce Rampone: Medically Withdrawn Day 7

World Cup and Olympic Soccer Champion

Randall Cobb: Quit Day 8

NFL Pro Bowler

Andrew East: Withdrawn on Day 9

Former NFL Player

Kody Brown: Withdrawn on Day 9

TV Personality

Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia: Voluntarily Withdrawn on Day 9

Internet Personality

Shawn Johnson: Successfully Completed Training

Olympic Gymnastics Gold Medalist

Gia Giudice: Successfully Completed Training

TV Personality

Check out Peacock to binge your favorite NBCU TV shows and movies, live sports and more!