All the NFL players who retire in 2022 will leave a legacy that lives on. The average career length for NFL players is 3.3 years, according to the NFL Players Association. Many of the players who will appear on this list will have played much longer than the average. In this time, they have played through countless injuries and made an impact on the game. Look to this list regularly to see the best NFL players who retired in 2022, either because it was their time or because injuries cut a promising career short.
The biggest NFL retirements of 2022 came in the form of two legendary quarterbacks who dueled in the AFC for over a decade, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. These two combined played in 12 Super Bowls over a 17-year span. As we all know, Brady is the GOAT quarterback, but the two-time champion Roethlisberger is right up near the top of the best quarterbacks of all time. Brady later became the latest of NFL players to un-retire when he announced his return to the game after only 40 days on the sidelines!
Such short careers ensure prominent players retire from the NFL every year. Look to this list for a running record of football players retiring in 2022. Almost all of the 32 NFL teams say their goodbyes to a veteran or two each year. Vote up the recently retired NFL players who had the most impact on the game during their careers, and check back throughout the year to see who else retires.
Career Achievements: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2016) First-team All-Pro (2008) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2009, 2011) 11× Pro Bowl (2005, 2007–2013, 2015–2017) 2× NFL receptions leader (2005, 2016) 2× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2008, 2009) NFL 2010s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Art Rooney Award (2014)
Career Achievements: 4× Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2014) 4× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017) 5× Pro Bowl (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017) NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2011) NFL 2010s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Career Records: Most receiving touchdowns in a season by a tight end (17) Most career touchdowns in the postseason by a tight end (15) Most total touchdowns in a season by a tight end (18) Most 100 yard games by a tight end in NFL history (32) First tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011) Most offensive touchdowns in first two seasons: 28 (tied with Randy Moss) Most seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end: 5 (2010–2012, 2014–15) Most career average receiving yards per game among tight ends: 68.3 Most receptions by a tight end in Super Bowl history: 23 Most receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history: 297 First tight end with 1,000+ career postseason receiving yards Most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end: 1,163
Position: Tight end
Teams: New England Patriots (2010–2018), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2021)
Career Achievements:
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)
6× Pro Bowl (2007, 2011, 2014–2017)
2× NFL passing yards leader (2014, 2018)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2004)
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2004)
Career Records:
Most career 500-yard passing games (4)
Most career perfect passer rating games (4)
Most completions in a regular or post season game (47)
Most regular season wins in a season by a rookie QB – 13 (2004)
Most wins as a starting quarterback in first five NFL seasons (reg. season only) – 51 (from 2004 to 2008)
Youngest starting QB ever to win the Super Bowl (2005)
5th all-time in NFL career passing yards (64,088)
12th all-time in passer rating (94.3)
One of six quarterbacks in NFL history to have beaten at least 31 of the current 32 NFL teams.
Career Achievements:
Super Bowl champion (LVI)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2021)
2× First-team All-Pro (2015, 2017)
Second-team All-Pro (2014)
4× Pro Bowl (2012, 2015–2017)
NFLPA Alan Page Community Award (2019)
Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year (2018)
Career Records:
Oldest offensive lineman to play in a Super Bowl.
Oldest offensive lineman to win a Super Bowl.
Oldest tackle to play in a game.
Position: Tackle
Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (2006–2016), Los Angeles Rams (2017–2021)
