Every pro athlete has to call it quits eventually. These 25 NFL players could be entering their final season in 2022.
Barr is set to be a role player in Dallas after back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in Minnesota. Now age 30, his Pro Bowl days are long behind him, and he could retire if injuries strike again this season.
Brady already has his post-career job lined up with a pending broadcasting deal, and he's sat out most of camp for personal reasons after retiring this offseason temporarily. The writing is on the wall for Brady to retire after 2022.
Campbell's streak of four consecutive Pro Bowls ended last season, as he recorded only 1.5 sacks in 15 games. He's still a strong contributor for the Ravens, but is in severe decline entering his age 36 season.
Crosby has shown some inconsistency recently and is coming off arguably his worst season, making fewer than 75% of his field goals in 2021. Another season like last year might force the 38-year-old into retirement.
Formerly the leader of the Eagles defense, Cox's streak of six straight Pro Bowls ended in 2021. He had only 3.5 sacks, and the team has added his eventual replacement with first-round pick Jordan Davis. Turning 32 in December, Cox's clock is ticking.
Gould continues to play at an extremely high level, making 87% of his field goals last season. Despite his long and productive career, Gould won't be able to perform at this level forever and is entering his age 40 season. Any deterioration this year could cause him to consider moving on.
Heyward is sometimes overlooked now on a talented Steelers defense that has so many stars. He made his fifth straight Pro Bowl last year, and was also an All-Pro for the third time. Still, his power rushing game typically doesn't lend to continuing a career well into a player's 30s, and Heyward is now entering his age 33 season.
Hicks has missed significant time to injuries in two of the last three seasons as he joins the Bucs. He's hoping for a Super Bowl ring with his new team, with sack production that has been well down recently. Hicks turns 33 in November in what could be his final go.
Houston is back on his second short-term deal with the Ravens, clearly favoring winning over a more prominent role. He had only 4.5 sacks in 15 games with the Baltimore last season, and could see his playing time cut further this year at age 33.
Hoyer had a significant stint in his mid-career as a starter with the Browns, Texans, Bears, and 49ers, but his role as a backup has been evident over the last several seasons. He continues to back up Mac Jones in New England, but there might not be much football left as he approaches age 40.
Ingram is a popular player in New Orleans, and in a good role behind Alvin Kamara after many years as the team's starter. He's already outlived the typical running back career now entering his 12th NFL season, and last year's 3.5 yards per carry indicates he's lost a step.
Ingram's post-Chargers career has included the Steelers, Chiefs, and now Dolphins. It's clear he wants to help winning teams, but the 33-year-old might not have the ability to be a three-down player any longer.
Jackson is entering his fourth year in the Denver defense, and has continued to take on a leadership role. Entering his age 34 season, Jackson is also one of the oldest defensive players in the league on a team that has gotten younger on that side of the ball recently.
Jones has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons, and didn't seem to have much of a market before signing in Tampa Bay. He's down on the depth chart now in a clear quest to win a Super Bowl at age 33 before he hangs up his cleats.
There was speculation Kelce would retire after last season, but he's playing as well as ever as an All-Pro for the fourth time last season. Turning 35 in November, he's hoping to win his second Super Bowl in Philly before retirement.
Lee has been in the NFL since 2004, and now enters his age 40 season. He still has a big leg, but the whispers of retirement get louder given his age.
Lewis is mainly a blocker these days as Green Bay's second tight end. He's fared well in that role since joining the Packers in 2018, but he's now one of the oldest players in the league at age 38.
McCourty's twin brother, Jason, retired during the offseason, and Devin surely isn't far behind. He's been a staple in the Pats secondary since 2010, though the production has slipped over the last three years.
Miller still draws a big payday, but he clearly has bigger goals at this point in his career. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams last season, and joined a Bills squad with an excellent shot to provide Miller with his third ring. The future Hall of Famer could ride off into the sunset after his age 33 season.
Prater has been known for his big leg for most of his career, but we have to expect his range to decrease as he gets closer to age 40. Accuracy has become an issue for Prater over the last three years, which is concerning entering his age 38 season.
Rodgers is a back-to-back MVP winner, but his struggles in the playoffs have clouded his career in comparison to Tom Brady. He will likely be able to play as long as he'd like, but Rodgers knows the end is coming sooner than later.
Rudolph hasn't produced much over the last two seasons, so it's not surprising that he'd join a highly competitive Bucs squad in what looks like the twilight years of his career. At age 33, he has a chance to win his first Super Bowl as the Bucs second tight end.
There hasn't been a more dominant left tackle during Smith's career, as his eight Pro Bowls show. Unfortunately, he's really had trouble staying on the field, playing a total of 13 games over the last two seasons. The wear and tear might be too much for Smith, who turns 32 in December.
Watkins struggled in the 13 games he was healthy with the Ravens last year. A Super Bowl hero with the Chiefs in 2019, Watkins hasn't played an entire season since his rookie year in 2014, and lower body injuries could lead to ending his career early.
A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Watt has struggled to stay on the field recently. He played only seven games last year, recording only one sack in the process. If Watt's body fails to cooperate again, he could opt to end his career.
Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.
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