LB Kiko Alonso announces retirement days after signing with Saints
After sitting out the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons, linebacker Kiko Alonso signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.
Two days later, Alonso has reportedly decided to end his comeback and hang up the cleats for good, according to WWL-TV's Brooke Kirchhofer.
ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports that Alonso is physically fine and simply changed his mind about returning to play.
Alonso last appeared in an NFL game back in 2019, when he played 13 games for the Saints. He started the 2020 season on the PUP list before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, who cut him just a few weeks later.
Alonso was a second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills out of Oregon in the 2013 NFL draft.
In his first season with the Bills, Alonso finished with career highs in tackles (159), interceptions (four) and sacks (2.0) while being named to the 2013 NFL All-Rookie team.
After missing the 2014 season with a torn ACL, Alonso was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2015 season. He'd spend just one season in Philly before being dealt to the Miami Dolphins, where he played from 2016 to 2018 before joining the Saints.
In 86 career NFL games for the Bills, Eagles, Dolphins and Saints, Alonso posted 588 tackles, 10 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and three sacks.
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