Kenyan Drake has decided to bring his NFL career to an end. The veteran running back confirmed in a conversation with NFL insider Josina Anderson on Friday that he is retiring.
“It felt like the right time,” the 30-year-old told Anderson. “I love the game, but I don’t love the business. I’m at peace with the decision. I’m healthy and ready to start the next chapter of my life.”
Drake entered the league as a Dolphins third-rounder, and over half of his regular-season appearances (and his lone playoff one) came with Miami. He topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2018 and did so again the following year while splitting his time between the Dolphins and Cardinals. Drake’s best season came in 2020, his only full campaign in the desert.
That year, the Alabama alum rushed for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns. That success earned him a two-year, $11M Raiders deal, but his career consisted of a series of short-term gigs from that point onwards. Drake only spent one campaign in Vegas before bouncing around to several teams in search of an opportunity. He had a pair of Ravens stints with Colts and Browns deals mixed in between August 2022 and November of last year.
Drake’s final NFL contract came from the Packers in December, and he made a single appearance down the stretch. His remarks suggest he attempted to find a new deal this offseason (something which a number of veteran backs managed early in free agency), but instead of seeking out a training camp accord or waiting for an opportunity to open up during the fall, he will turn his attention to his post-playing days.
A veteran of 105 combined regular and postseason contests, Drake racked up 5,521 scrimmage yards and 41 touchdowns across his eight years in the league. He will depart the NFL with nearly $26MM in career earnings.
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