Former Bears DT Eddie Goldman retires two weeks after signing with Falcons

Veteran nose tackle Eddie Goldman informed the Atlanta Falcons that he's retiring from the NFL, two weeks after signing a one-year deal with the team earlier this month.

Goldman, 28, was the Chicago Bears' second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent his entire career with the team before he was released in March. In his first five seasons, Goldman recorded 12.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He was named an alternate for the Pro Bowl in 2019, but opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A year later, he returned and struggled to find his 2019 form, finishing the 2021 season with just one tackle for loss.

"It was kind of painful, you know?" Goldman said of sitting out in 2020, via NBC Sports Chicago. "Because when you're used to the routine, it's like you know what times they're hitting the field at this time, they're warming up around this time, they're having the locker room speech. You know what I mean. All of that and just being away from it just kind of killed me."

With the Falcons, Goldman joined a defensive line anchored by two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Veterans are due to report to Atlanta's training camp next Tuesday with Anthony Rush favored to start at nose tackle next to Jarrett.