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Green Bay Packers: former wide receiver announces surprising retirement after brief NFL career

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jan 14, 2026 7:58 PM ET

Back in 2021, the Green Bay Packers saw change at the wide receiver position coming. And while they still had stars like Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the team at the time, they knew a time was on the horizon when they would have none of them.

As a result, general manager Brian Gutekunst used Green Bay’s third round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on wide receiver Amari Rodgers. At the time, many fans were excited about the pick because he profiled to be similar to Cobb and his father was Cobb’s position coach at Kentucky.

Unfortunately, Rodgers struggled during his short tenure with the Packers. While he was not able to get regular snaps on offense, he was given the kick and punt return role, which ended as an absolute disaster.

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Amari Rodgers has retired from football

Green Bay Packers: former wide receiver announces surprising retirement after brief NFL career 1 Green Bay Packers wide receiver Amari Rodgers (8) bobbles a punt return against the Dallas Cowboys during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Packvscowboys 1113220119djp

As a rookie, Rodgers had an uninspiring 20 punt returns for 166 yards and 11 kickoff returns for 199 yards. He also had two fumbles.

But while his rookie campaign was uninspiring, his second season was an absolute disaster. In 10 games with the Packers, Rodgers had 20 punt returns for 139 yards and six kick returns for 122 yards. However, he also fumbled the ball five times.

Rodgers was released by Green Bay midway through the season and he was soon picked up by the Houston Texans. And while he did finish the 2022 season with them, they released him in July of 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts signed him to their practice squad for the season, but he never played a regular season game for them.

For the past two years, Rodgers has played in the UFL for the Birmingham Stallions. Earlier this week, after he was reportedly assigned to a team in that league’s annual draft, it was revealed that he had actually retired from football:

News: WR Amari Rodgers, who was selected by the Aviators, is retiring from the #UFL per @uflanalyst.

The former #Packers 3rd round draft pick played for the Birmingham Stallions, recording 370 yards & 4 TD’s in the UFL the last 2 years.

Congrats on a great career, @arodgers_3! pic.twitter.com/9SYI8OrvYu

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) January 14, 2026