Pro Bowl guard announces retirement

Brandon Scherff remains unsigned deep into free agency, and no late-summer deal will be forthcoming in his case. The Pro Bowl guard has retired.

No announcements have been made on Scherff’s part with respect to a decision on his future. However, a summary of his induction into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame notes he “retired this summer.” The 33-year-old’s statement reflecting on his playing days confirms his career is over.

“It’s been something I could never dream of,” Scherff said of his NFL tenure. “Sometimes I would tell my wife that she has to pinch me, because I’m playing a kid’s game, and being able to do it as a job is pretty amazing. Now, having kids and being able to see them after games is absolutely wonderful. So I would say it’s a dream come true. And I will be forever grateful to have had that chance.”

The fifth overall pick of the 2015 draft, Scherff immediately took on starting duties with Washington. His run in the nation’s capital spanned seven years and included five Pro Bowl campaigns. Scherff’s only All-Pro nod came about in 2020. That year marked the first of two consecutive seasons where the franchise tag was in place.

Scherff departed on the open market in 2022, signing with the Jaguars on a $16.5M-per-year pact. That accord was restructured last spring, allowing for a reduction in his cap charge for the 2024 season. Scherff again played all 17 games with Jacksonville, meaning he did not miss a contest across his tenure in Duval County.

Scherff’s time with the Jaguars included two seasons outside the top 20 in terms of PFF grade amongst guards. That marked a notable drop-off compared to his consistent high-end play with Washington. Any deal signed this summer would have checked in at a lower rate than his previous pacts, but Scherff still could have offered a new team with starting-caliber play along the interior. Instead, his attention will turn to his post-playing days.

In all, Scherff played in 144 combined regular and postseason games, starting all of them. He amassed roughly $110M in career earnings.