5 NFL Players Who Need To Retire ASAP…And 5 Who Should Keep Playing*

Longevity is very rare in today’s NFL. Hitting the decade mark is quite the challenge for many NFL players, causing many to retire before reaching that point in their careers.

Now obviously, there are players that have reached and surpassed that point like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, but it begs the question: when should a player call it a career?

Let’s take a look at 5 players that should retire… and 5 players that should keep going. We’ll only consider players that have at least 10 seasons under their respective belts for this list.

Which NFL players should continue their careers, and which ones should call it a day?

Needs to Retire: Geno Smith

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 07: Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the football during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Geno has been in the league for ten years but hasn’t really blossomed until joining the Seahawks in 2019 as Russell Wilson’s backup.

Once he got the starting bid after Wilson’s big trade to Denver in 2021, Smith led the team to the playoffs the following year, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors.

But Geno’s age has definitely shown over the last couple of years, missing the playoffs after that season, and Seattle has already started the transition phase by trading for younger NFL players such as Commanders QB Sam Howell.

Geno may have a couple of years left in him, but he’s no franchise QB at this point, and he’ll have to hang up the cleats sooner rather than later.

Needs to Stay: Aaron Rodgers

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers looks on during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
We were robbed of a possible new beginning for the Jets when Rodgers’s Achilles was torn on MetLife’s infamously bad turf only four snaps into his debut with his new team.

Now, not only does he have a second chance to show just how talented he is for his new team, but the Jets front office did an absolutely spectacular job getting him a refined O-line and some legit weapons in Mike Williams and Garrett Wilson over the years.

Rodgers was always a top-tier QB and NFL player since his days with the Green Bay Packers, and by all accounts, he still is. Give him a few years to make the Jets a perennial playoff team starting in 2024.

The former Super Bowl champion and 4-time MVP has plenty left in the tank.

Needs to Retire: Zach Ertz

Eight long years with Philadelphia produced 3 Pro Bowl nods and the most receptions by a TE in a single NFL season.

But after a season-ending knee injury in 2022 with the Cardinals, Ertz hasn’t been the same since.

This season with the Washington Commanders may end up being his final year, but his career in Philly could still be worth a gold jacket in the future along with other great former NFL players.

Needs to Stay: DeAndre Hopkins

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 07: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Five-time Pro-Bowler, five-time All-Pro nominee, and the 2017 receiving touchdown leader, WR DeAndre Hopkins has proven himself to be a model of consistency.

Over his illustrious career, Hopkins has only been out of games once, back in 2021, and has played every game possible outside of the six games he was suspended for in 2022.

He’s carved a legacy as an all-time great receiver that any quarterback can rely on, and he has leadership attributes that should make him a shoo-in for Canton whenever he decides to retire.

But he’s still chasing that first Lombardi, and we know the NFL player has at least another five years in him to help make that dream a reality. Keep going, Nuk. We’ll be following you until the end.

Needs to Retire: Von Miller

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 15: Von Miller #40 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

The former Super Bowl 50 MVP has shown grit his entire career and will go down as one of the greatest Broncos players ever.

But after ten long honorable years, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for picks and went on to help them win a Super Bowl.

It looked like he would be a force of nature for years to come. But two years with the Buffalo Bills have shown otherwise. His two years with the team have been riddled with missed time due to injury.

At this rate, if Von can’t prove that he’s still got that grit in him, we may be seeing his retirement sendoff sooner rather than later. And at this point in his career, it would probably be for the best.

Needs to Stay: Mike Evans

TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 15: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
A record ten straight 1000-yards seasons since year one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since being drafted in 2014 is by far the most consistent a Wide Receiver has ever been.

No one has accumulated yards like Evans has, and especially considering the quarterback carousel he endured over his decade-long run with Tampa really proves just how outstanding his talent really is since he can be a reliable #1 receiver no matter who’s throwing him the ball.

Why not make that record all the more impossible to catch? We’re curious how long the durable NFL player can keep this up, but the former Super Bowl Champion has shown absolutely no sign of slowing down any time soon.

It’ll be a long time before anyone may potentially threaten his records for the league and the Bucs, and we want to see just how far this crazy ride will go.

Needs to Retire: Andy Dalton

TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 03: Andy Dalton #14 of the Carolina Panthers warms up prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Dalton was a prized draft choice back in 2011 by the Cincinnati Bengals after he and fellow rookie WR AJ Green would set the record for most TDs by an NFL rookie player QB and WR in history.

After five unsuccessful Playoff starts, Dalton was finally replaced by 2020 1st overall pick Joe Burrow, and Dalton was subsequently released by the grateful team.

This was the beginning of the end of his career as he was pushed back to the backup role for three teams before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2023 on a 2-year deal. Dalton rarely, if at all, sees the field under center for any team nowadays.

It may be time to call it now before he’s considered too washed to be even considered a viable backup by any team.

Needs to Stay: Davante Adams

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on as the United States national anthem is performed before a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Adams has built up quite the reputation as a solid #1 WR for any team he’s on, whether it was during his eight years in Green Bay or his two years in Las Vegas with the Raiders.

Racking up 6 Pro Bowls and 3 All-Pro nods is one thing but consider this: over his 10-year career, Adams has only missed a total of 13 games at Green Bay and none in Sin City.

The NFL player’s ultra-dependable hands, combined with his unmatched set of route-running skills, make him any quarterback’s favorite target instantly. The Raiders are now moving on to a new QB, and whoever that is will be fortunate enough to have Adams as a target for potentially more and more years to come.

We love watching Adams dominate secondaries all across the NFL, and that’s not going to change any time soon.

Needs to Retire: Patrick Peterson

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 31: Patrick Peterson #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after beating the Seattle Seahawks 30-23 at Lumen Field on December 31, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
Peterson had amassed a respectable reputation as a reliable cornerback and as a punt returner, back when he was with the Arizona Cardinals, and he was truly a sight to behold.

3 All-Pros and 8 Pro Bowl nods are impressive, especially considering that he has missed only 9 out of a possible 211 total games over his 13 years as a Cornerback.

However, since leaving the Minnesota Viking for Pittsburgh, the former Cardinal and Viking doesn’t seem to be as dynamic now as he was back in.

His numbers across the board are okay as of 2023, but he was consistently getting burned by receivers that year, and we don’t see him regaining his former glory.

Give it a season or two, and we’re sure he’ll be calling it quits, provided a major injury doesn’t get to him first.

Needs to Stay: Travis Kelce

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs waves to fans after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Travis Kelce has made it clear that he’s one of the greatest Tight Ends in NFL history with numerous records at the position to his name.

Most receiving yards in a single season, most consecutive seasons with 1000+ receiving yards, plus 3 Super Bowl rings show just how incredible this guy is.

Now some may say he’s a product of star QB Patrick Mahomes, but he was able to play just as effectively with now retired QB Alex Smith before Mahomes entered the picture.

Not only does he show no signs of slowing down, but the chance to be a part of the first NFL team ever to three-peat sounds too tempting to retire now.

Kelce will be a staple in the Chiefs offense for plenty more seasons to come.