Ndamukong Suh announces retirement after 13 NFL seasons

“Every snap I took in football carried his fingerprint,” Suh wrote. “Every time I lined up across from someone, I could hear his voice pushing me, reminding me that I wasn’t just representing myself. I was representing him, my family, my name.

“Before he passed, he gave me one final piece of advice, ‘It’s time to let football go. You’ve done everything you set out to do. Now it’s time for the next chapter.’ That conversation stayed with me. So today, one year later, I’m honoring that wish.”

The Detroit Lions selected Suh out of Nebraska with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons in Detroit before stints with the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Suh hasn’t played a game since 2022 when the Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

All told, Ndamukong Suh was a three-time First Team All-Pro selection and a two-time Second Team All-Pro honoree. He also won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2010 and was a member of the league’s 2010s All-Decade Team. He also got a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl LV.

That came after a standout career at Nebraska. Suh won the AP’s College Football Player of the Year award in 2009 along with the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurksi Trophy and Lombardi Award as part of his All-American season.

“I left it all on the field, and now I’m stepping away with peace and gratitude,” Suh wrote in his post. “Because I’ve been preparing for this moment for years. Football was my passion, but it was never my endgame. My next season is about impact, purpose, and legacy. About helping others build wealth, lead with intention, and create lasting freedom.”