10 NFL players who could retire following the 2020 season

After the 2020 season, several prominent NFL players could choose retirement.

We watched several NFL legends hang up their helmets for good this past season. Predictably, Antonio Gates and Eli Manning decided to walk away rather than continue their battles with Father Time on new teams.

However, several players like Luke Kuechly and Marshal Yanda walked away following All-Pro seasons. Even more well-known NFL players could call it quits after 2020.

While the last three or four drafts have injected some much-needed youth into the NFL, there’s still a class of elite players who are entering their mid-to-late 30s. With expiring contracts and diminishing physical abilities, the following players might move on to the next stage of their lives after this coming season.

Honorable Mentions

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the Saints this offseason. However, the 41-year-old admittedly considered retirement after the team’s third consecutive frustrating playoff defeat. Brees wants to go out as a Super Bowl champion, but injuries or fatigue could force him out after the 2020 season.

Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger also deserve mentions. They both have two years remaining on their respective deals. Brady is approaching 43, while Roethlisberger is still 38 and returning from a season-ending injury. I bet they both play out the remainder of their contracts, but there’s a chance, especially for Big Ben, that 2020 is the end of the line.

Alex Mack, C, Atlanta Falcons

Mack is in the final season of a five-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons. As he approaches his 35th birthday, the six-time Pro Bowler might begin feeling the weight of old age. For reference, left tackle Joe Staley and right guard Marshal Yanda both retired this offseason at the age of 35.

LeSean McCoy, RB, Free Agent

McCoy is an honorable mention because I’m not sure anyone wants to sign the 32-year-old running back. While McCoy did average 4.6 yards per carry during the 2019 regular season, Kansas City didn’t give him one touch during the team’s playoff run.

Terrell Suggs, OLB, Free Agent

Suggs signed with the Kansas City Chiefs late in the 2019 season and got a ring out of it. However, the former Defensive Player of the Year doesn’t have a home for 2020 yet. At 37 years old, Suggs recorded 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 40 tackles last year.

Aqib Talib, CB, Free Agent

After making five straight Pro Bowls, Talib fell off a cliff in 2018. Injuries limited him to eight games that year, and he only made five appearances last season. 2019 was the first year of Talib’s 12-year career that he didn’t intercept a pass. He’s currently 34 years old.

Adam Vinatieri, K, Free Agent

Vinatieri doesn’t crack the top-ten because there’s still a chance he retires this offseason. The NFL’s all-time leading scorer recently put his house in Indianapolis up for sale, which indicates his time with the Colts is over. Vinatieri made 68.0 percent of his field goal attempts and 78.6 percent of his extra-point tries last season. He’s 47 years old.