Top 10 Players Who Could Retire After the NFL Season

The one certainty in sports is that Father Time will always remain undefeated, and it can be downright ruthless to some players. Some athletes will walk away from the sport on their own terms, while others are pushed out by organizations that are looking to rebuild or move forward. Then some stick around longer than they should, and it’s not easy to watch.  With that, we present to players who should and could retire after this season. 

10. Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver — Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill has been one of the fastest players we’ve seen in the last decade.  But the speedster tore his ACL in Week 4, and his season was over.  A full recovery could take up to a year, making him 32-years old when he’s cleared to play.  He was special because of his blazing speed, but how fast will he be after rehab? Hill has over 11-thousand yards and 83 touchdowns in his career, but given the severity of his latest injury, retirement isn’t a bad option considering he’s made over $150-million over his career.

9.  Zach Ertz, Tight End — Washington Commanders

After 13 seasons in the NFL, we may have seen the last of Zach Ertz. The tight end enjoyed a late-career resurgence with the Commanders after missing time with Arizona in 2022 and 2023.  He would have 116 catches, 1,158 yards, and 11 touchdowns with Washington before suffering a torn ACL in December.  Already one of the older players in the league, the 34-year-old likely calls it a career, as recovering from this injury usually takes a full year. 

8. Bobby Wagner, Linebacker — Washington Commanders

Linebacker Bobby Wagner became only the third player in NFL history to record more than 2,000 career tackles.  He finished the season with 162 total tackles, but at 35-years old and in his 14th season, he could call it a career.  He’s a sure-fire Hall of Fame,r as his credentials are undeniable.  While he was one of the most productive linebackers, he struggled in defensive coverage. If Washington moves on, he could hang up the cleats after a record-setting season. 

7. Von Miller, Edge Rusher — Washington Commanders

He’s won the Super Bowl twice, been named Super Bowl MVP, an eight-time Pro Bowler, but it may be the end of the line for Von Miller. The 36-year old was released by the Bills in 2025 before signing with the Commanders.  While he’s still fast, it’s clear Miller’s career is winding down.  His recent roles have become smaller, and his impact has diminished.  Teams would rather go younger than go with the veteran, and with lingering injuries, Miller will likely announce his retirement at some point in the offseason. 

6. DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver — Baltimore Ravens

He once was one of the best wideouts in the NFL, but DeAndre Hopkins is now just a shadow of the player who had seven 1,000-yard seasons.  He finished 2025 with the Ravens with just 22 catches for 330 yards.  He’s seen his role reduced over the last two seasons with three teams (Titans, Chiefs, Ravens), has over 13-thousand career yards, and likely makes the Hall of Fame one day.  But at this point, his best move is to retire, as most teams will go cheaper and younger than an aging receiver who has lost a step or two. 

5. Cam Jordan, Defensive End — New Orleans Saints

It’s not often a player spends 15 seasons with the same team, but Cam Jordan has done that with the Saints.  The 35-year old has seen his play decline over the last couple of seasons, but the Saints reworked his contract and brought him back – a clear sign they didn’t want to commit long term.  Packing it in after 15 years and retiring as a one-franchise player would likely mean having his number retired in New Orleans and a place one day in the Hall of Fame. would cement his legacy in New Orleans forever. 

4. Calais Campbell, Defensive Lineman — Arizona Cardinals

Calais Campbell has not officially announced his retirement but has strongly indicated that the 2025 NFL season, his 18th, is his last. He’s 39-years old and signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals, the team that drafted him in 2008.  Typically, we see players play out their career with their original team, but there is a bit of a storybook ending for him here.  He has 117 career sacks and is one of the best players in franchise history.  Campbell can do something others don’t get to do: walk away on your own terms. 

3. Russell Wilson, Quarterback — New York Giants

Russell Wilson will likely be one-and-done in New York as the Giants turned to rookie Jaxson Dart after Wilson started 0-3.  After being benched, the former Seahawks and Steelers QB was relegated to third-string.  After winning the Super Bowl, Wilson has essentially gone from starter to backup in three seasons.   And when you hear from other players, Wilson wasn’t the best teammate.  While he may want to continue playing, he may be at the end of the line, as teams have discovered the magic is just not there anymore.

2. Travis Kelce, Tight End — Kansas City Chiefs

Will he or won’t he?  That will be the big offseason question regarding Travis Kelce.  One of the best tight ends ever, the 35-year-old is coming off one of his worst seasons.  He had his lowest total of receptions (76) since 2015 and reached the end zone just five times as the Chiefs missed the playoffs.  And with a marriage to Taylor Swift on the horizon, does Kelce retire and concentrate on family and his podcast with his brother?  There’s a good chance.  Wear and tear on the body takes its toll, and for Kelce, it may be time.   He’s won three Super Bowls, is the franchise’s all-time leading receiver, and will be in Canton one day soon. 

1. Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback — Pittsburgh Steelers

If the playoff game against the Texans was any indication, Aaron Rodgers’ time in the NFL has come to an end.  Already the oldest active player in the league, we saw his age as he struggled against Houston.  Last offseason, Rodgers said he was ‘pretty sure’ this was his last season.  His deal with Pittsburgh was one year, not a long-term commitment.  At 42, he’s had a Hall of Fame career, won a Super Bowl, four MVPs, and ten Pro Bowls. There’s not much else to prove, and it would be a major surprise if he doesn’t retire.  Here’s to you, AROD, a career for the ages.  Happy retirement!

Conclusion 

Retirement from sports is a complex and challenging life transition for athletes, often involving a loss of identity and purpose, significant mental and emotional hurdles, and the need to establish new social networks and career paths.  But just like death and taxes, retirement is inevitable, and for these ten players, it can happen this offseason.