The average NFL career lasts roughly three seasons, so if a player that has been in the league for a while can hang on with a team; usually they will. Although some of these players may be up there in age and past their prime, they can still provide value to the team they’re on. But Father Time never loses, and every player will eventually have to make the decision to keep playing for another season or hang up the cleats for good. Here are some players that will have to make a tough decision for next season, and if I think they should retire or keep playing:
RETIRE – WR Julio Jones
Jones hasn’t been the same receiver he once was ever since he was traded from the Falcons to the Titans back before the 2021 NFL season. He had a fine season in 2022, catching 24 passes for 300 yards in 10 games for the Buccaneers; but it feels like he’s just trying to hang on for as long as possible. He is still a free agent this season and hasn’t really generated any interest around the league. He just isn’t the same player he once was, and honestly, he isn’t even close to what he was. At age 34, father time may have caught up to him for good.
STAY – QB Aaron Rodgers
Yes, he tore his Achilles in his 1st game with the Jets this season. His play style of hanging in the pocket and delivering will be crucial since, when he returns next season, he will be 40 and not nearly as mobile as he once was. Rodgers is as smart as they come and extremely accurate while also not having to rely on his mobility to make plays happen. The Jets better invest in their Offensive Line if they want a real chance to compete next season, though.
RETIRE – DT Calais Campbell
Campbell has had an excellent career by anyone’s standards, but now sitting at Age 37 it might be time to hang up the cleats. He isn’t as productive as he once was, which isn’t a knock on him; it’s expected. The Falcons signed him this off-season knowing he could give them decent production given his age while also being a vital locker room guy for a young team looking to compete for a playoff spot this season. He is well respected in that room, as he should be. Hopefully he can stay healthy for the remainder of his career, but he could retire at any time over the next couple seasons.
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STAY – C Jason Kelce
The older of the Kelce brothers continues to be just as dominant as he ever has been in his career. Despite being 35, Jason Kelce has avoided the injury bug despite playing right in the middle of the offensive line. He has a PFF grade of 74.2, has played in every single one of the Eagles offensive snaps this season, and has no penalties and no sacks allowed. He is the definition of elite, and a big part of why Philly has had such a good start to the season. He is going year to year at this point in his career, but he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
RETIRE – EDGE Justin Houston
The Kansas City Chiefs legend has bounced around a few teams since leaving KC after the 2018 season and has been a pretty solid rotational DE. This offseason he signed with the Carolina Panthers as a rotational piece for their defense, but he hasn’t produced very much. He only has 7 combined tackles so far this season and 0.5 sacks, and the Panthers have struggled overall as a team. I’m sure he could stay around the league as a mentor, but his days of being productive on the field are over.
STAY – WR DeAndre Hopkins
Once one of the best Wide Receivers in the NFL, Hopkins has fallen off a little bit since the 2020 season. He has struggled to stay on the field for a couple of reasons, such as injury and suspension. This offseason he signed with the Tennessee Titans, after not generating a ton of interest from other teams. He hasn’t been his dominant self like he was with the Texans, but in Week 5 against the Colts he flashed his old self when he caught 8 passes for 140 yards. He may not be the old Hopkins like he was, but he still has a few years left as a quality WR for a team looking to fight for a playoff spot.
RETIRE – LT Duane Brown
Brown is a 38-year-old Left Tackle, and you can tell it when you watch him play. He has been an extremely good Tackle his whole career, but the Jets are asking a lot of him to cover Rodgers/Wilsons blind side. He can hold his own against power rushers sometimes, but against speed edge rushers he just can’t keep up. He was placed on IR in Week 3 due to a hip injury, a sign of older age in NFL years. I think it may be time for him to retire, and time for the Jets to look for a franchise LT.
STAY – CB Stephon Gilmore
“Gilly Lock” was traded from the Colts to the Cowboys this offseason, and he was an excellent duo with Trevon Diggs before Diggs went down with an injury. He has allowed less than a 50% completion percentage when targeted, along with 20 total tackles and has a very solid 71.3 PFF grade. He now turns into Dallas’ CB1 with Diggs going down, a tough ask for anyone; especially a 33-year-old Corner. If anyone can do it, its Gilmore. I see no reason for him to retire until he starts to show signs of slowing down.
RETIRE – HC Bill Belichick
Yes, I know that Bill Belichick isn’t a player and when you clicked this article it said “5 Players who Should Stay and 5 Who Should Retire”; but Belichick looks outmatched in nearly every game he plays. He acts as the Patriots General Manager and Head Coach, but the Patriots consistently look unprepared and their roster might have the least talent in the NFL. In Weeks 4 and 5, they were outscored 72-3. They scored 3 points in 8 Quarters of football; that is terribly impressive. He still may be the best coach to ever coach in the NFL, but it seems the NFL game has grown, and he hasn’t adjusted to it. It may be time for him to ride off into the sunset.
STAY – LT Trent Williams
The fact that Trent Williams is still playing at the level he is despite being 35 years old is incredibly impressive, and he has shown absolutely 0 signs of slowing down any time soon. He has a dominant 90.0 PFF grade and has allowed 0 sacks, which is massive for a young QB such as Niners QB Brock Purdy. The 49ers traded for him from Washington a few years ago and paid him, and he has lived up to that deal and then some. San Francisco are considered by many to be Super Bowl favorites, and Trent Williams is a big reason to why they can have so much sustained success.
