25 NFL players who could retire after the 2026 season

Allen could have ended his career with the Chargers after last season, but he decided to give it one more go at age 34 with the Colts. The six-time Pro Bowler is a borderline Hall of Famer when he decides to hang up his cleats and has proven he can still play, finishing last season with 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns.

Beckham was out of football last season, but he made the Giants' 53-man roster heading into 2026. He will turn 34 this season, and it's the perfect story to wrap up his career after playing his first five seasons and seeing most of his best seasons with New York from 2014 to 2018.

Incredibly, Campbell is still going strong as he seems to age like fine wine. Now age 40, Campbell is set to be a role player on a Super Bowl contender after recording 6.5 sacks with the Cardinals last season. It's his second stop in Baltimore after spending 2020-2022 with the team. Campbell might be doing enough to make the Hall of Fame, with six Pro Bowls and 117 career sacks.

Cousins impressed at the end of last season as a studio analyst, but his potential second career will wait at least one more year. He won the Raiders starting quarterback job over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza as he enters his age 38 season. He has four Pro Bowls to his name in an outstanding NFL career.

Davis was a late bloomer, playing his best football in the second half of his career with the Saints. He left New Orleans after eight seasons and rejoined the Jets in 2026, the team that drafted him. It's a good way to go out for the 37-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler.

Donald has been out of football since 2023, but the future Hall of Famer couldn't pass up the opportunity to return after the Rams revamped their defense in the offseason. It remains to be seen whether Donald will have the same flash he showed as the best defensive tackle of his generation, with 10 Pro Bowls and 8 All-Pro selections in 10 seasons. This is likely a one-year trial as Donald tries to win his second Super Bowl at age 35.

Flacco's second act in the NFL has been impressive, and he's emerged as one of the league's most reputable backup quarterbacks over the last several seasons after winning a Super Bowl as a starter early in his career. He's backing up Joe Burrow in Cincinnati again this season and will turn 42 in January.

There seems to be no stopping Folk, who joined the Falcons at age 42. He's played some of his best football over the last few seasons, making more than 95% of his field goal attempts in each of the last three seasons. Given his age, Folk is taking it year to year at this point.

While Henry has shown no real signs of age at 32, the cliff can be steep for running backs. The five-time Pro Bowler had 1,595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for the Ravens last season, and remains a key part of their offense.

Heyward remains a fan favorite in Pittsburgh as he enters his 16th season. He showed signs of decline last season at age 36, recording only 3.5 sacks in 17 games. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he looks likely to make the Hall of Fame after he retires.

Jenkins joined the Ravens, his seventh NFL team, before last season. At age 37, he still does a fine job plugging up the middle, but his role could continue to dwindle this season as he nears age 40.

The Eagles' offensive line has taken some big hits recently, losing center Jason Kelce and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to retirement. Johnson looks like he could be next as he enters his age 36 season. He has an impressive resume with six Pro Bowls, but played only 10 games due to injury last season.

Jordan will always be a fan favorite in New Orleans and had a bit of a resurgence in 2025, posting 10.5 sacks at age 36. The eight-time Pro Bowler has a shot at being enshrined in Canton in a few years, and has at least one more season left.

The fullback position has fallen out of style in the NFL, but Juszczyk has helped keep it alive. He's made the Pro Bowl in 10 consecutive seasons as a key role player in Kyle Shanahan's offense for most of that period. Now 35, he's nearing the end of his career.

Keenum last found the field in a regular-season game in 2023, but he's served as Caleb Williams' backup since last season. He emerged as an exciting starter early in his career and will likely end his career soon, now entering his age-38 season.

There was speculation that Kelce would end his career after last season, a potential swan song before his offseason marriage. However, Kelce added at least one more season to his career after the Chiefs had an uncharacteristically terrible 2025 season. Kelce looks to pad his Hall of Fame resume this year after making 11 consecutive Pro Bowls.

Mack's recent play hasn't been up to his usual standard, with him holding well under 10 sacks over the last two seasons. Still, he's been productive for the Chargers defense as he enters his age-35 season. Mack is certainly a top candidate for the Hall of Fame when he's finished, with nine Pro Bowls and 113 sacks in his first 12 seasons.

Miller signed late in camp with the Cowboys, returning to his hometown for what may be his final season. He's been a role player for the last few seasons with Buffalo and Washington, but he recorded nine sacks last season. At age 37, he will be out to show he can help the Cowboys this year.

Moses enters his second year with New England after starting all 17 games last season. At age 35, he's still going strong but is likely getting close to the end of his career.

Ramsey made his eighth Pro Bowl last year after joining the Steelers. He turns 32 in October and continues to play at a high level, but is likely inching closer to the end of his career.

Rodgers has stated this is his final season, as he reunites with former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and turns 43 in December. He rebounded slightly with the Steelers last season, going 10-6 as their starter during the regular season, and Pittsburgh has added more weapons this year to help complement the four-time MVP.

After a one-year stop with the Raiders, Smith rejoins the team that drafted him as the Jets' starter. It's an odd fit during a rebuilding year, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old Smith is out to prove he still has good football in his arm. It would also be a full-circle moment after spending his first four seasons with the Jets.

Stafford won MVP and likely sealed his Hall of Fame status last season, and anything short of a Super Bowl ring this year would be disappointing after the team made waves in the offseason. The quarterback does have some risk at age 38, but a great season and a second Super Bowl championship would allow him to go out on top after the team drafted fellow quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round.

Taylor has been a backup for most of his career, though he has 62 starts over 15 seasons. He adds a veteran presence behind Jordan Love, but it remains to be seen how much he has left at age 37.

Williams has established himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen ever, making 12 Pro Bowls in 15 seasons. He's a rare game-changer at left tackle, but injuries have become a bigger issue in recent seasons. The 38-year-old could be entering his final season.