NFL Draft Diamonds

NFL Draft, NFL Trade Rumors, Scouting Reports & More

#Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley has retired from the NFL at the age of 23

Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley has retired from the NFL
Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley has retired from the NFL

The Buffalo Bills had big plans for A.J. Tarpley the 23 year old linebacker from Stanford, but he will no longer play football in the NFL. According to his Instagram post, Tarpley is retiring from the NFL because of concussions.  He is not the first person to walk away from the game, it sounds like players are starting to look at their health more than anything at this point. The Bills recently signed Zach Brown, but they will need to find another linebacker for depth. 

The only thing comforting about not knowing this play would be the last of my career, is knowing that I never took a second for granted. After months of introspection, I am retiring from football. I suffered the 3rd and 4th concussions of my career this past season and I am walking away from the game I love to preserve my future health. This decision is the hardest I’ve made yet but after much research and contemplation I believe it’s what is best for me going forward. I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone that helped me along the way. Thank you to my coaches at Wayzata and Stanford, and to lifelong friends that I was blessed to call teammates. You all molded me into the man I am today. To my family, I’ll never be able to repay your unwavering support and love, I just hope that I can continue to show how gracious I am and make you proud. I also want to thank the Buffalo Bills organization, coaches, and teammates for helping me fulfill my lifelong dream in the NFL. Last but not least, I’m proud to be a part of #BillsMafia and playing in front of the best fans in the league is something I won’t forget. Thank you God for all that you have blessed me ?. I’m excited for my future.

A photo posted by A.J. Tarpley (@ajtarpley) on

Leave a Reply