Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Ariz., USA; Arizona Cardinals center Billy Price (53) prepares for pre-game warm ups before playing against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona RepublicNfl Cardinals Patriots 1213 New England Patriots At Arizona Cardinals

Veteran C Billy Price (blood clot) announces retirement

Former first-round draft pick Billy Price announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday morning due to the potential of complications from a blood clot.

Price, a center, last played in the league with the Arizona Cardinals during the 2022 season.

“In the blink of an eye, everything can be taken away,” Price wrote on Instagram. “On April 24th I had emergency pulmonary embolism surgery to remove a saddle clot that was entering both of my lungs. As a healthy 29 year old, an unprovoked pulmonary embolism with no further medical explanation is terrifying. I am truly thankful to be alive today.

“Unfortunately, I will be retiring from the NFL as the risk of an internal bleed while on blood thinners creates tremendous risk.”

Price played in 69 career games (45 starts) with the Bengals, New York Giants and Cardinals since being selected by Cincinnati with the 21st overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.

With the Buckeyes, he won the Rimington Trophy, which honors the nation’s top center, in 2017.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker (1) tries to avoid New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks (25) at MetLife Stadium, Sunday, November 26, 2023.

WR DeVante Parker retires 2 months after signing with Eagles

Wide receiver DeVante Parker has retired after nine seasons in the NFL — and just two months after joining a new team.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Parker to a one-year deal in March, but Parker told ESPN on Monday that he has other priorities in mind right now.

“I want to see my kids, spend quality time with them,” Parker said. “I want to be there for them whenever I can.”

Parker, 31, spent the past two seasons with the New England Patriots after playing seven for the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him 14th overall in 2015. Parker had 33 catches for 394 yards without a touchdown in 13 games last season.

Across 119 career games (88 starts) for Miami and New England, Parker hauled in 402 receptions for 5,660 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Parker was expected to be an option at WR3 for the Eagles behind stars A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Philadelphia also signed Parris Campbell and added two wide receivers in the draft.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Duke Johnson (22) runs back a kick off against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

RB Duke Johnson retires from NFL after 8 seasons

Running back Duke Johnson, who played for the Cleveland Browns and three other teams across eight NFL seasons, announced his retirement on Sunday.

The pass-catching specialist was not on a team in 2023, last appearing in one game for the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 season.

“8 Years 4 teams with 1 goal in mind, create a better life for my family,” Johnson wrote in an Instagram post. “I never dreamed of being the all time leading rusher of my dream school or being somewhere on the list of all time players to come out of South FL. I just wanted an opportunity to play a game to provide a better life for my family and I was able to do just that. I want to thank each team for giving me the chance to play and represent your organization and all the fans that supported me through the highs and lows.”

Johnson, 30, racked up 3,519 rushing yards in three seasons at Miami and is still the Hurricanes’ all-time rushing leader.

He was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by Cleveland and spent four seasons there. His career-best season came in 2017 when he gained 1,041 yards from scrimmage (348 rushing, 693 receiving) and totaled seven touchdowns.

After 97 career games (21 starts) with the Browns, Houston Texans (2019-20), Miami Dolphins (2021) and Bills (2022), Johnson finished his career with 2,265 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns and 311 receptions for 2,870 yards and 12 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

NFL Hall of Famers Darrell Green, left and Bruce Smith speak to freshman and sophomore students Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Petersburg High School. Green played 20 years with the then-Washington Redskins, and Smith, a Norfolk native, played 19 years with the Buffalo Bills and Redskins.

Commanders to retire Darrell Green’s No. 28

The Washington Commanders, committed to a fresh start under new ownership, are embracing the past.

The franchise announced Thursday that it will retire No. 28, worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Darrell Green for 20 seasons, in ceremonies during the 2024 season.

Green learned the news after he arrived at the Commanders Park training facility, thinking he was summoned there to voice a video prepared by the team for the NFL draft. With his family present, team officials gave him the news.

“I would’ve never dreamed this,” the former cornerback said. “I was so shocked. It’s almost like it breathed life into me. I have never been so surprised, shocked. My head is still spinning, but I am a million percent humbled.”

Green, who won two Super Bowls with the Washington franchise, was an All-Pro, the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year and already was a member of the Commanders Ring of Fame. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2008.

He becomes the fifth member of the franchise to have his jersey retired, joining Sonny Jurgensen (No. 9), Bobby Mitchell (No. 49), Sammy Baugh (No. 33) and Sean Taylor (No. 21).

“I’m humbly grateful,” Green, 64, said. “I feel like crying just thinking about it right now. This means a lot to me.”

Washington selected Green No. 28 overall in 1983, and he played in 295 games (258 starts). In his era, Washington reached the playoffs eight times.

He broke team records for most career interceptions (54), most games started and played, most consecutive seasons (20), longest fumble returned for a touchdown (78 yards) and most interceptions returned for touchdown (six). He also made 1,202 tackles.

Green also became known for his off-field contributions in the community, founding the Darrell Green Youth Foundation.

“Darrell Green’s legacy transcends the boundaries of the football field,” said Josh Harris, the Commanders’ managing partner, in a team-released statement. “Throughout his remarkable career, Green embodied the values of excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship on and off the field.”

Harris continued: “Retiring Darrell Green’s jersey symbolizes our commitment to preserving the rich history and tradition of our franchise. His presence as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Burgundy and Gold will forever be felt at Commanders Field, serving as an inspiration to current and future generations of players, coaches, and fans.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) tackles Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris (22) during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

RB Damien Harris announces retirement

Running back Damien Harris, who spent four seasons with the New England Patriots and one with the Buffalo Bills, announced his retirement on Monday.

The Alabama product was a third-round draft pick by New England in 2019 and became a free agent after his one-year deal with Buffalo expired.

“Getting to represent the name on the back of my jersey on and off the field, getting to compete at the highest level with and against the best competitors while winning championships and being coached by the 2 greatest head coaches of all time in Nick Saban and Bill Belichick are all just a small part of what God has done in my life with the game of football,” Harris wrote on Instagram.

“Gratitude is defined as ‘the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.’ Today I am grateful I have found the strength to walk away from the game I love so much.”

Harris, 27, finished his playing career with 2,188 rushing yards for 21 touchdowns and 42 receptions for 297 yards. His best season came in 2021, when he scored 15 touchdowns on 929 yards on the ground.

Harris appeared in six games for the Bills in 2023 and gained 94 yards on 23 attempts, scoring one touchdown. But he suffered a neck sprain against the New York Giants in Week 6 and had to be driven off the field in an ambulance — less than one year after Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and scary scene — and Harris missed the rest of the season.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens running back Mike Davis (28) carries the ball in the second quarter during an NFL Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Nfl Cincinnati Bengals At Baltimore Ravens Oct 9 0176

Veteran RB Mike Davis retires

Mike Davis, who suited up as a running back for six teams across eight NFL seasons, announced his retirement on Monday.

Davis, who did not play in 2023, took to social media with a message of gratitude on his 31st birthday.

“As I turn 31 today, I sit back and look on my NFL career and how thankful I am to be apart of a brotherhood,” he wrote. “This game has allowed me to make a lot of friends and memories. I’m grateful for every organization in NFL. With that being said I’m retiring!”

Davis broke into the league as a fourth-round draft pick in 2015 by the San Francisco 49ers.

In 87 career games (30 starts) for the Niners (2015-16), Seattle Seahawks (2017-18), Chicago Bears (2019), Carolina Panthers (2019-20), Atlanta Falcons (2021) and Baltimore Ravens (2022), Davis amassed 2,052 yards on 3.7 yards per carry with 14 touchdowns. He also collected 171 receptions for 1,066 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

He started 12 games for the Panthers in 2020 (15 total appearances) and posted career bests of 642 rushing yards, six touchdowns, 59 catches, 373 yards and two touchdown receptions.

–Field Level Media

Holy Cross's Jordan Fuller is tackled by a wall of Harvard defenders during Saturday's EBW Football Classic at Polar Park.

Harvard coach Tim Murphy retires after 30 seasons

Harvard coach Tim Murphy said Wednesday he is retiring after 30 years on the job.

He took over the program in 1994 following stops at Maine and Cincinnati and has a 200-89 record with the Crimson, 232-134-1 overall. He is the winningest coach in both overall wins and conference wins in Ivy League history and has led Harvard to 10 league titles, including in 2023.

“It has been an incredible honor to be the football coach at Harvard, and I am forever grateful to have been blessed to work with so many amazing people starting with the 1,000 student-athletes and 80-plus assistant coaches during our tenure here,” said Murphy, 67, a Massachusetts native, in a news release. “Sometimes, at the end of your career someone will ask, ‘Do you have any regrets?’ And my simple answer is no, because in any endeavor, any relationship, if you give it absolutely everything you have, there can be no regrets.”

Prior to Murphy’s arrival, Harvard hadn’t won more than eight games in a season since 1919.

“Harvard has 150 years of football history and Tim Murphy led the most successful era of its entirety in his 30 seasons,” athletic director Erin McDermott said. “His name will forever be linked with Harvard Football in an exalted manner because of the sustained team success, coaching milestones achieved and the measure of his character and work ethic. Coach Murphy changed Ivy League football upon his entry, and we are all better for it.”

Under Murphy, the Crimson finished .500 or better 23 times, including perfect seasons in 2001 (9-0), 2004 (10-0) and 2014 (10-0).

Harvard said it will immediately begin a national search for its next head coach.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) reacts after making a tackle during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

LB Christian Kirksey tells Bills he’s retiring

Buffalo Bills linebacker Christian Kirksey announced he is retiring from the NFL, the team said Thursday.

Kirksey, 31, was signed to the Bills’ practice squad on Aug. 31, three days after the Houston Texans released him. He has yet to appear in a game with Buffalo.

He played the previous two seasons in Houston, starting 12 of 13 games in 2021 and all 17 games as a team captain in 2022. He totaled 217 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions with the Texans.

Kirksey played for the Cleveland Browns from 2014-19 and the Green Bay Packers in 2020. His career totals include 778 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 33 quarterback hits and six fumble recoveries across 114 games (94 starts).

The Browns selected Kirksey in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Iowa.

Also on Thursday, the Bills signed linebacker A.J. Klein to their practice squad.

Klein, 32, has totaled 465 tackles, 15.5 sacks, four interceptions, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 144 career games (82 starts) with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Bills (2020-22), Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears.

–Field Level Media

Aug 4, 2023; Canton, OH, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with the NFL shield as a backdrop during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold Jacket dinner at Canton Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL insider Chris Mortensen retires from ESPN

Longtime NFL reporter Chris Mortensen said Tuesday that he has retired from ESPN.

“Excited about another season but it’s time to reveal after my 33rd NFL draft in April, I made a decision to step away from ESPN and focus on my health, family and faith,” Mortensen tweeted. “The gratitude and humility is overwhelming. It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time. God Bless you all.”

Mortensen, 71, was a newspaper journalist before joining ESPN in 1991, where he regularly appeared on “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “SportsCenter” and contributed the network’s Super Bowl and NFL draft coverage. In January 2016, he announced he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer.

Mortensen received the Dick McCann Award from Professional Football Writers of America in 2016. Even as he was away from work while battling cancer, Mortensen broke the news in March of that year that Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning would retire after 18 NFL seasons.

Tributes for Mortensen poured in across social media.

“Best of the best,” tweeted Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN’s NBA insider. “What an honor it’s been to spend time with Mort and learn from him. A true titan in this industry and an inspiration in every aspect of his remarkable life and career.”

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) is brought down by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack (51) on a reception in the first quarter of of the NFL Week 11 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. The Steelers led 20-17 at halftime.

Cincinnati Bengals At Pittsburgh Steelers Week 11

Report: LB Myles Jack to retire, two weeks after joining Eagles

Linebacker Myles Jack informed the Philadelphia Eagles that he is retiring, NFL Network reported on Sunday morning.

Jack, who turns 28 on Sept. 3, signed with the Eagles two weeks ago after spending last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He played 29 snaps on defense and three on special teams during the Eagles’ 18-18 tie against the Cleveland Browns in a preseason game on Thursday. He entered the game for the first time in the second half.

Jack spent six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-21) before recording 104 tackles in 15 games (13 starts) with the Steelers.

He totaled 617 tackles (22 for loss), 6.5 sacks and three interceptions in 103 career games (95 starts) since being selected by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media