Athlete retirement
FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. Four-time All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement again, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Rob Gronkowski retires, won't join Tom Brady for 3rd season

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 21, 2022 03:15 PM EDT

FILE - Indianapolis Colts safety Khari Willis (37) defends during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 11, 2021, in Baltimore. Willis announced in a Twitter post on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, that he has decided to retire so he can pursue a career in the ministry. (AP Photo/Larry French, File)
Willis opts to retire from Colts, pursue ministry at age 26

By Michael Marot Jun. 15, 2022 06:59 PM EDT

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love watches Aaron Rodgers throw at the NFL football team's practice field Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rodgers unsure how long he will play beyond this season

By Steve Megargee Jun. 07, 2022 05:19 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald smiles during an NFL mini camp football practice Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rams reaping rewards as Donald returns, Kupp eyes new deal

By Greg Beacham Jun. 07, 2022 04:24 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) of the AFC is congratulated by teammates after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown in the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Honolulu. Seven-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is retiring after 13 years in the NFL, leaving a major hole in the middle of the offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers. The 36-year-old Mack announced his retirement on Friday, June 3, 2022, in a move the Niners had been bracing for this offseason. (AP Photo/ Marco Garcia, File)
Pro Bowl Jan-2011

Jun. 03, 2022 11:57 AM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers center Alex Mack (50) walks back to the locker room after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. Seven-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is retiring after 13 years in the NFL, leaving a major hole in the middle of the offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers. The 36-year-old Mack announced his retirement on Friday, June 3, 2022, in a move the Niners had been bracing for this offseason. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
7-time Pro Bowl C Alex Mack retires after 13 years in NFL

By Josh Dubow Jun. 03, 2022 11:54 AM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick waves to fans before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday, June 3, 2022, that he informed former teammates of his intention to retire a day earlier. Former Bills running back Fred Jackson first announced the news of Fitzpatrick’s retirement on his Twitter account by posting an image and message from his former Buffalo teammate. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
FitzMagic runs out: 39-year-old journeyman QB is retiring

By John Wawrow Jun. 03, 2022 10:11 AM EDT

Frank Gore signs 1-day contract to retire with 49ers

By Josh Dubow Jun. 02, 2022 07:04 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Frank Gore has signed a one-day contract with the San Francisco 49ers and announced his retirement from the NFL. Gore spent...

Pittsburgh Steelers' Cam Heyward, left, and T.J. Watt, center, share some laughs as they warm up during an NFL football practice, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Steelers will have to fix leaky run defense without Tuitt

By Will Graves Jun. 02, 2022 05:29 PM EDT

FILE - Fox Sports play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, left, and analyst Troy Aikman work in the broadcast booth before a preseason NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Fla., Aug. 22, 2019. On Monday, May 16, 2022, Buck and Aikman made their first trips to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, to meet with executives and their future co-workers as preparations for the upcoming season began to ramp up. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Fox promoting Olsen caps NFL's announcer movement for now

By Joe Reedy May. 31, 2022 06:50 PM EDT

Jaguars C Luke Fortner signs 4-year, $5.5M rookie contract

May. 26, 2022 01:44 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner signed a four-year contract worth $5.5 million Thursday, becoming the last of the team's seven...

FILE - Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch (4) punts during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Ariz., Oct. 26, 2015. Longtime Ravens punter Sam Koch retired Thursday, May 19, 2022, and will join the Baltimore coaching staff as a special teams consultant. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Ravens veteran punter Sam Koch retires after 16 seasons

May. 19, 2022 03:39 PM EDT

FILE -New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) runs against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Running back Bilal Powell signed a one-day contract with the New York Jets on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 retiring as a member of the only NFL franchise for which he played. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez, File)
RB Bilal Powell signs 1-day deal to retire as member of Jets

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Apr. 26, 2022 06:23 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during pre-game warmups before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Steelers ponder changing of the guard at QB with 20th pick

By Will Graves Apr. 22, 2022 04:28 PM EDT

FILE - Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Houston. Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says he’s retiring, ending a 10-year career in which he recorded 58 sacks. Mercilus announced his decision Wednesday, April 6, 2022, via Instagram. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
Former Texans, Packers veteran OLB Whitney Mercilus retiring

By The Associated Press Apr. 06, 2022 03:15 PM EDT

3-time Pro Bowl safety, activist Malcolm Jenkins retires

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 30, 2022 09:31 AM EDT
Malcolm Jenkins is retiring after a 13-year NFL career in which he established himself as one of the league’s best all-around safeties, most durable players and...

FILE - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Beasley can forget trying to negotiate a trade out of Buffalo now that he’s a free agent after being cut by the Bills on Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Bills cut receiver Cole Beasley day after signing Von Miller

By John Wawrow Mar. 17, 2022 12:50 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth holds up the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy during the team's victory parade in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, following their win Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Rams' Whitworth retires after 16 years capped by first ring

By Greg Beacham Mar. 15, 2022 12:17 PM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Brady’s retirement lasted 40 days. He said Sunday, March 13, 2022, he is returning to the Buccaneers for his 23rd season in the NFL. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
Tom Brady is returning to Tampa to play 23rd season in NFL

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 13, 2022 07:39 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams linebackers Von Miller, center, and Leonard Floyd, left, celebrate following the team's victory parade in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, after their win Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Champion Rams hope to retain vets, bolster defensive depth

By The Associated Press Mar. 10, 2022 11:09 AM EST