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Super Bowl Champion DB Retires From NFL After Two Months With New Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 6:19 PM ET

As NFL teams are preparing for the 2025 season, which is set to kick off in early September, there is one team around the league that suffered an unexpected loss on Monday.

Following a 10-7 regular season and a second straight divisional round loss, the Houston Texans looked to make some moves this offseason that can help them keep up with the AFC juggernauts that are the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

One of those moves was to bring in Super Bowl champion cornerback Ronald Darby on a one-year deal worth $2 million, to help bolster a secondary that gave up the third-most passing touchdowns (31) in the NFL. A unit that also gave up the third-most passes of 40+ yards this past season.

While the team may have had lofty hopes for Darby and what he would bring in 2025, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the 31-year-old unexpectedly called it a career.

During his 10-year career, Darby was the definition of a journeyman, playing for six different teams in that span. The former Florida State corner was drafted with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

After two seasons with the Bills, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was a part of the team's 2017 Super Bowl-winning run and spent three seasons with the team.

He then signed with NFC East rival, Washington Commanders. He then left D.C. for the Denver Broncos on a three-year deal, but was released after 16 games with the team.

Darby then played his final two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. For his career, he finished with 381 solo tackles, one forced fumble and eight interceptions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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