Becoming a professional athlete is quite a challenge in and of itself! But staying one as the body ages is a unique challenge – especially in the NFL, which is far and away the most physically demanding of the big four. As a result, we tend to see a pretty steady flow of turnover from year to year. Even the NFL stars get pushed out sooner than we—or the players themselves, for that matter—ever seem to expect.
Let’s look at 10 NFL stars that we could see get pushed into retirement after the upcoming season!
Which NFL stars are on the verge of retirement next year?
Jason Peters, Free Agent
All things considered, Jason Peters has to be viewed as one of the most talented players of his era. The offensive tackle turned himself from an undrafted free agent out of the ‘04 draft to a Super Bowl winner and perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.
You have to wonder what the scouts were thinking back then, overlooking the freakishly athletic big man.
He got some burn-in last year in the Pacific Northwest with the Seahawks as a 41-year-old… which is ridiculous.
Peters is still technically a free agent—and we might see a team try to bring him into the locker room as a veteran presence and or a rotational piece… But all things are pointing to Peters getting pushed toward retirement—perhaps sooner rather than later!
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Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
There is no denying that Zach Ertz was once a star in the NFL, but let’s face it… The 6’ 5” pass catcher has certainly experienced a notable decline in performance and usage in recent years.
Otherwise… Why would he have joined the Washington Commanders at this stage in his career?! Talk about desperation!
All cheap shots aside… Ertz is a far way away from his peak—back with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he earned three Pro Bowl selections and was an integral part of their Super Bowl run.
Over the past few seasons, he has dealt with various ailments, including a significant ankle injury in 2020 that not only cost him a chunk of games but all seems to have had a lingering effect on his ability to perform come game day.
These injuries have not only affected him physically, but they have also disrupted his rhythm and chemistry with quarterbacks… especially once he was shipped out to Arizona, where the position was fairly unstable due to injury.
In any case, he’s missed over a dozen games in the last two years, and if he doesn’t put up some sort of a revival campaign in the Nation’s capital, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him quietly drift into retirement after the season.
Michael Thomas, Free Agent
For a stretch there, Michael Thomas, AKA Can’t Guard Mike, was considered one of the top wideouts in the league. In 2018 and 2019, he led the league in receptions back-to-back years as part of a four-year period to start his career, during which he averaged over 100 receptions per year and well over 1200 yards.
It isn’t clear if injuries caught up with him or something changed with how he approached the game or maybe opposing defenses just figured him out… but he has barely eclipsed 1000 receiving yards total in the four years since.
Now, the Ohio State product sits unsigned in free agency and is set to turn 32 at the end of this season. Teams are hesitant to sign the former NFL star due to concerns over his injury history and durability—as well as his questionable character.
Some teams will likely take a flyer on him based on his track record… But don’t be shocked if one more down years pushes a guy who looked like a surefire Hall of Famer to start his career into an early retirement that doesn’t amount to a Gold Jacket.
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott wasted no time becoming one of the most dominant backs in the game after the Dallas Cowboys took him at the top of the 2016 NFL Draft—fourth overall, as a running back, to be precise…
But it looks like those 300+ carry seasons are long behind him and that, perhaps, Zeke’s better days, too, are now in the rearview mirror.
After back-to-back Pro Bowl years in 2018 and 2019 with Dallas, it seemed clear that he had lost a step, and his production reflected that. Compounding the problem for Dallas was that Elliott was on one of the largest contracts for a running back in the league.
The man who was in many ways the face of the franchise was unceremoniously discharged to Foxborough, where he toiled away in 2023 for what was far and away the least productive season of his career.
But was it a sabbatical, or was it the end? Because now Zeke is back with the Cowboys for another trip around the sun!
There is excitement in Big D, but common sense dictates that he is likely just past his prime and that this change of scenery won’t do much for him. Furthering our suspicion that this could be it… the decision to bring Elliott back to Dallas could also be viewed as a sentimental move, more so than a strategic one, allowing him to finish his career where it started.
And if he tanks in his return to Dallas, I wouldn’t be shocked for it to go from bad to worse for the former NFL star, so much so that it could ultimately spell the end of his career.
Justin Houston, Miami Dolphins
Justin Houston was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
At 6′ 3″ and 270 pounds with an elite pass-rushing skill set, Houston quickly made a name for himself with his explosive speed, strength, and ability to get to the quarterback.
During his heyday, he was named to four Pro Bowls and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014 after recording an astounding 22 sacks, just half a sack shy of the NFL single-season record.
Unfortunately, time waits for no one… and we are now well over a decade from his draft night.
Houston’s body isn’t what it once was, and the NFL star is clearly in a state of decline, as evidenced by his decision to sign with the Carolina Panthers last year. More and more teams are choosing to prioritize youth, speed, and long-term potential, leaving veteran players like Houston out in the rain, often finding themselves with limited options.
Houston’s time in Charlotte was far from a success too… He suffered a hamstring injury Week 8 with just .5 a sack to his name.
Somehow, he parlayed that into a contract with the Dolphins back in January… but if he doesn’t put up some serious counting numbers or overly impressive game tape during this upcoming campaign in Miami, the 35-year-old may be forced to walk off for good at season’s end.
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Von Miller, Buffalo Bills
There is no shortage of career highlights for Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller, who has won Super Bowls with multiple teams, one of which included Super Bowl MVP honors, and racked up countless individual accolades—namely eight Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections…
However, it is starting to look like we may be in the twilight of the likely future Hall of Famer’s career based on what we have seen play out since he joined the Buffalo Bills on a lucrative contract in 2022.
Despite the high expectations from players around the league, media members, and fans alike, Miller’s production with the Bills has been underwhelming, to say the least.
The veteran has struggled to stay healthy, missing significant portions of the season due to injuries. When on the field, his once-explosive burst off the line and ability to dominate opposing tackles have noticeably diminished.
Compounding his on-field struggles, Miller has faced several off-field issues that have further tarnished his reputation and contributed to the Buffalo Bills’ hesitation and growing frustration with Miller.
If he struggles to produce in Western New York this season, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Bills wash their hands of the controversial NFL star—and if they do that… at this point in his career, I doubt that any other teams around the league would risk their collective neck trying to bring him into the fold.
Allen Robinson, New York Giants
Robinson’s best years came with the Chicago Bears, where he consistently put up impressive numbers despite inconsistent quarterback play. He leveraged his big, physical frame to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, earning a reputation as one of the league’s top receivers.
After his 1250 yard campaign in 2020 though, the playmaker fell off a cliff production wise, recording just 38 catches for 410 yards.
Most folks around the league chalked it up to the Bears abysmal quarterback and wider offensive situation, but based on how he’s fared with the Rams and the Steelers in the subsequent two seasons, there is serious cause for concern that Robinson maybe completely washed up!
The New York Giants, however, decided to take a flyer on the former Nittany Lion star… and… needless to say—he’ll have the deck stacked up against him there with how that offense has looked with Daniel Jones under center and the uncertainty at the QB position.
That said, he’ll need to find a way to produce because the aging NFL star is running out of chances!
Marcus Peters, Free Agent
At his best, Marcus Peters was one of the most feared cornerbacks in the league—for both his fiery attitude and his impressive ball-hawking skills.
Peters has been a high-impact player ever since the Kansas City Chiefs took him in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. In fact, he even led the league in interceptions his rookie season, earning Rookie of the Year Honors in the process!
Unfortunately, football—and the cornerback position, more specifically—require an insane degree of athleticism… something that injuries, including a significant ACL tear in 2021, have started to hamper.
It isn’t just his ability to stay on the field that has been called into question, but also his ability to actually perform at an acceptable level—as we have seen a major uptick in his careless penalties, coverage lapses, and decline in that insane play making ability that he built his career on.
He was waived mid-year in 2023 by a floundering Las Vegas Raiders team and at this point, he remains unsigned.
We may see a contender roll the dice on him… but even if one does, it doesn’t look like his NFL career is long for this world.
Patrick Peterson, Free Agent
Marcus Peters isn’t the only star cornerback speeding through the back nine of his NFL career… Patrick Peterson—a former fifth overall pick in the draft—also appears to be on a steep decline.
His best days came with Arizona, where he earned eight Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors as a member of the Cardinals.
He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he actually made his first career start as safety due to injuries around their defensive secondary… but despite his versatility and the fact that he started 16 games, it did look like the future Hall of Famer lost more than a step or two.
The Steelers released him this offseason and he has yet to sign with a new team, which has caused many to speculate whether or not Peterson is on his way out of the NFL.
Calais Campbell, Miami Dolphins
Ever since Calais Campbell was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he has been one of the most formidable forces on the defensive line year in and year out.
At 6’ 8” and 300 pounds with an athleticism that is unique to the burly d-tackle, the NFL star has terrorized opposing offensive lines—and subsequently, their quarterbacks for over a decade now.
One of Campbell’s most notable seasons came back in 2017 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spearheaded a complete change of culture.
It wasn’t just the career-high 14.5 sacks he posted that helped lead the team to an AFC Championship appearance, but also his tenacity and leadership—which turned the lowly Jags defense into “Sacksonville” — one of the most feared units in the league in recent memory.
His contributions earned him a place in the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, cementing his legacy as one of the elite defenders of his era… but now that we are heading into the 2024 season with Campbell due to turn 38 at the beginning of the season, it seems extremely likely that his better days are behind him and he could be pushed towards retirement. His numbers have fallen off drastically since his glory days in Duvall and while he is still serviceable, his decline begs the question: for how much longer will he be?
Don’t be surprised if this year ends up being the last one for a guy that many would argue will be in the Hall of Fame someday!
