Retired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) is ready to move on to a life that does not involve absorbing hits from pass-rushers on Sundays. Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Retired QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 'not sure' if he could still play in NFL

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jun 22, 2022 1:17 PM ET

Popular veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick was supposed to serve as the starting quarterback for the then-named Washington Football Team during the 2021 NFL season but instead missed almost the entire campaign due to a right hip subluxation he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

After spending 17 seasons as an active player, Fitzpatrick confirmed earlier this month that he was retiring, and it was learned on Tuesday that he'll soon become a pregame analyst for Amazon Prime Video "Thursday Night Football" broadcasts. Fitzpatrick, who turns 40 in November, told Andrew Marchand of the New York Post that a lack of starting opportunities at the highest level helped make his retirement decision that much easier.

It appears there is no guarantee the league would have had any "Fitzmagic" this fall even if a spot atop a depth chart remained open through the first days of summer.

During the latest edition of "The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast," Fitzpatrick was directly asked if he physically can still play:

New Amazon Prime NFL analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick on playing football again.

Listen to the whole Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast here:
Apple: https://t.co/c4KUmSWvNI
Spotify: https://t.co/lu0I3L0hwM
Google: https://t.co/M4FcrJzDYu pic.twitter.com/Aj2VpeZzyS
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) June 22, 2022

"I'm actually not sure," Fitzpatrick honestly answered. "I pushed my rehab as far as I could and before I had to make the decision of what I was going to do. My hip is not 100 percent healthy and I don't know if it ever will be."

Fitzpatrick previously said that being able to attend his kids' sporting events on weekends attracted him to Amazon "TNF" assignments. He was able to joke during the podcast episode about being the best player on a field during at least one annual contest.

"But I think I'll dominate in the 'Turkey Bowl' on Thanksgivings as long as there's no contact," Fitzpatrick added during his comments.

While situations often quickly change, it sure sounds as if Fitzpatrick is content and ready to move on to a life that does not involve absorbing hits from pass-rushers on Sundays.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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