Amari Cooper to Retire from NFL One Week After Raiders Return

What looked like a homecoming for Amari Cooper has instead turned into the end of a decade-long NFL career. Just a week after signing a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has informed the team he intends to retire, according to multiple reports.

Cooper, 31, told head coach Pete Carroll on Thursday morning that he no longer has the desire to play. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly confirmed the news, saying, “It’s unfortunate because I think he’s a heck of a football player. But he knows in his heart what he wants to do, so I wish him the best.”

A Short Reunion in Las Vegas

Cooper’s signing last week was viewed as a “full-circle moment” with the team that drafted him No. 4 overall in 2015. Raiders general manager John Spytek had even suggested the veteran would have “a big part” in Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots. Carroll expected Cooper to start on the outside and serve as a mentor for rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr.

“[Cooper and Thornton] will be doing a lot of the same stuff,” Carroll said. “I think Amari’s way can affect [Thornton] and help him come along … and I hope it really suits Jack and Dont’e.”

Thornton, a projected starter, admitted he was “starstruck” to share a locker room with Cooper, even briefly. “One of the best receivers to ever do it,” he said.

Raiders’ Wide Receiver Room Moving Forward

Cooper’s retirement leaves Las Vegas with Bech, Thornton, Tre Tucker, and Jakobi Meyers — who recently requested a trade after failing to land a new contract. Meyers, coming off a career-best 1,027-yard season, said he’ll still be ready to play Week 1 despite the uncertainty.

Vegas also has Justin Shorter, Shedrick Jackson, and preseason standout Alex Bachman on the practice squad. The group must support new quarterback Geno Smith and tight end Brock Bowers, who led the team in receiving as a rookie last season with 112 catches for 1,194 yards.

Cooper’s Legacy

Cooper retires after 10 NFL seasons with the Raiders, Cowboys, Browns, and Bills, finishing with 711 receptions, 10,033 yards, and 64 touchdowns. He posted seven 1,000-yard campaigns, including a career-best 1,250 yards in 2023 with Cleveland.

He played 52 games with the Raiders, totaling 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns before being traded to Dallas midway through the 2018 season. With the Cowboys, he produced his lone All-Pro-caliber year in 2019 (79 catches, 1,189 yards, eight TDs) and earned a $100 million contract extension. Later stints with Cleveland and Buffalo added to his numbers, though his final season was split between the Browns and Bills.

While Buffalo reached the AFC Championship Game in 2024, Cooper had a limited impact, recording just 28 receptions for 338 yards across 11 games including playoffs.

Still, Cooper’s consistency defined his career. He ranks 10th in Cowboys history in receiving yards (3,893) and 15th in Raiders history (3,183).

The Final Chapter

Though his second stint in Las Vegas lasted barely a week, Cooper’s body of work leaves a lasting mark. A polished route runner with elite separation skills, he was among the most productive receivers of his era.

As Carroll put it: “He’s a heck of a football player.”