Austin Blythe has shockingly decided to retire from the NFL after a career lasting just seven years.
Blythe, who was a starting center for the Seattle Seahawks last season, took to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon to announce his decision to call curtains on his professional metier.
He wrote:
I always told myself I wouldn’t do some long winded retirement post, but I’m not sure how to leave behind a game that’s afforded myself, and my family, so many opportunities without giving it at least some words.
The last 7 years have been nothing short of amazing. For a short, unathletic, undersized kid from Iowa, I’ve played a lot of football, met countless coaches and teammates that I can call friends, and made enough memories for myself and my family to last a lifetime.
I am so grateful, and extremely blessed, to have played the game for any amount of time, let alone 7 years. The game has been a huge part of our lives for the last 12 years, dating all the way back to college. For everything the game has taught me about life, I will cherish it forever.
The 30-year-old spent the 2022/23 season in Seattle, having signed a one-year deal worth $4 million. He started every game for the team, helping them make the playoffs, and finished 13th among centers in ESPN’s pass block win rate.
His ability to get the rest of the offensive line working as a single unit before the snap has been hailed by both coaches and teammates, with position coach Andy Dickerson branding him an “elite communicator.”
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Blythe was selected in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft after a college career with Iowa and spent his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with the Los Angeles Rams. He started 48 regular season games for the Rams, plus another five in the playoffs, in a four-year stint.
He was part of the Kansas City Chiefs roster before moving to Seattle, where he reunited with Dickerson and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, having worked with them in L.A.
