What Are They Doing Now?

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• Several big stars retired following the 2023 NFL season. With the 2023 NFL season roaring on, it seems like there might be even more stars planning a retirement after this season, and if they are anything like stars who retired more recently, they might find jobs within the NFL doing something. Many players move into announcing for television or radio broadcasts, while others move into coaching. A select few even find spots in entertainment, while others just go home to spend time with their families. Here is a look at some of the most recent retirees in the NFL and what they are doing now.

It has been stated various times by various athletes that one of the hardest dilemmas an athlete can face is knowing when to retire. For some, the decision is taken out of their hands due to injury or inefficiency, making it a bit easier. For others, though, deciding to walk away from the sport they love can prove to be difficult.

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Life after football, specifically, can be quite the adjustment for some retired NFL stars. However, for some of these recently retired players, stepping off the gridiron has opened up more time to enjoy life and even offered new career paths.

UPDATE: 2023/12/18 18:00 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

Several big stars retired following the 2023 NFL season. With the 2023 NFL season roaring on, it seems like there might be even more stars planning a retirement after this season, and if they are anything like stars who retired more recently, they might find jobs within the NFL doing something. Many players move into announcing for television or radio broadcasts, while others move into coaching. A select few even find spots in entertainment, while others just go home to spend time with their families. Here is a look at some of the most recent retirees in the NFL and what they are doing now.

12 Tom Brady

Preparing For His Role As A Commentator For Fox Sports

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Few NFL players retired and un-retired with the fanfare of Tom Brady. It was also rare to see how successful Brady was even after coming back from his retirement and playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By the time that Brady called it quits on his career, he had won seven Super Bowls, one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was named the Super Bowl MVP of five of them. He was also the NFL MVP three times in his career.

Brady finally retired following the 2022 NFL season. Before his retirement, he had signed a deal to become the lead color commentator for NFL on Fox in a 10-year, $375 million deal. However, Brady wanted to take a year off from working at all, and he will finally get around to the new job in the 2024 NFL season. In the meantime, fans can still see Brady in TV commercials.

11 J.J. Watt

CBS Sports Analyst For The NFL

At one time in his career, J.J. Watt was one of the most durable players in the NFL. He had a cabin in the woods where he would go in the offseason to work out and remain in peak physical condition. This helped him achieve great success in his career, especially with the Houston Texans. The former first-round pick was the NFL sack leader in two different seasons, with 20.5 sacks in 2012 and 17.5 sacks in 2015. He also had 20.5 sacks in 2014, losing out to Justin Houston (22).

Watt was the first player in NFL history to have 20 or more sacks in more than one season. After 2020, Watt left the Texans and played his last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He hadn't played as much after the 2015 NFL season, missing 41 games in his final seven seasons in the league. After logging a full season with 12.5 sacks in 2022, Watt retired. Watt is now an analyst for CBS Sports during NFL games in the 2023 season. Watt said he knew it was time to retire (via NFL.com).

"I've known for a little while. It's the right time. It feels like the right time. I've put so much into the game and the wins and the losses, the mental stress and passion that comes with it, it just weighs on you. It's heavy, I mean it's really heavy."

10 Greg Olsen

Color Commentator For Fox NFL Coverage

Over the past decade, the tight end position in the NFL has evolved significantly. In past eras, tight ends were mostly glorified offensive linemen. In more recent years, though, the position has become more of a hybrid between linemen and wide receivers. During the 2010s, Greg Olsen was one of the league's elite tight ends. After what will likely be a Hall Of Fame career, Olsen hung up his cleats in 2021.

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The 14-year veteran would immediately step into the announcing booth for FOX following his retirement. So far, Olsen has proven to be just as great as a commentator as he was on the field. In 2023, Olsen called his first Super Bowl. It's fair to say he's found a great second act on his football journey.

9 Alex Smith

NFL Analyst for ESPN Sports

Not enough is said about the immense pressure that comes with being the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Alex Smith is a great example of a player who had a great career but isn't appreciated nearly as much because of his perceived failure as a top pick. Despite what some skeptics may say, Smith was among the best Quarterbacks in the league during his career.

After a gruesome leg injury almost ended his career in 2018, Smith endured a torturous recovery and returned to the field for Washington in 2020, winning the NFL's Comeback Player Of The Year award. Despite interest from teams, Smith rode off into the sunset in 2021. He currently works as an NFL Analyst for ESPN which keeps him close to the game he loves.

8 Julian Edelman

Works As An Analyst On Inside the NFL

The New England Patriots have shown a knack during Bill Belichick's career of finding players that overachieve. Like Wes Welker before him, Julian Edelman was a huge overachiever. The former Super Bowl MVP was a vital part of Tom Brady's final years in New England, endearing himself to Patriots fans and the community.

After a mixed bag of a season without Tom Brady in 2020, Edelman would call it a career. The former 7th-round pick would end his career with over 600 receptions, over 6 thousand yards, and 36 touchdowns. Since retiring, Edelman became part of the NFL media. He joined the cast of Inside The NFL and has also done some recent acting work for a Verizon commercial.

7 Vernon Davis

Appeared On The Challenge & Dancing With The Stars

After a rocky start to his career in San Francisco, Vernon Davis turned into a key part of the 49ers' success from 2010 to 2014. After winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, Davis would make his way to Washington in 2016. Following ​​​​​​a few solid seasons in Washington, Davis abruptly announced his retirement in early 2020, right before the Super Bowl.

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Davis cited wear and tear on his body as the reason he was stepping away. Since retiring, Davis has remained in the public eye. He's been a host for multiple reunion specials of MTV's The Challenge and also participated in season 29 of Dancing With The Stars.

6 Julius Peppers

Works For Carolina Panthers as a Special Assistant Of Football Operations

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of an NFL quarterback like a relentless pass rusher. During his 17-year NFL career, Julius Peppers' was the embodiment of a relentless pass rusher. Peppers was drafted second overall by The Carolina Panthers in 2002. He left Carolina after the 2009 season but returned in 2017. After a couple of seasons back in Carolina, Peppers decided to call it a career after the 2018 season.

Peppers would retire as a 9-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Since retiring, Peppers has stayed on with Carolina as a Special Assistant Of Football Operations. Peppers is staying close to the game as he awaits what will most likely be a first-ballot Hall Of Fame induction.

5 Chris Johnson

Runs A Podcast Called Smash & Dash

Chris Johnson was one of the deadliest football players on the planet during his prime. Johnson earned the nickname "CJ2K" after becoming the sixth player to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. After the 2009 season where he broke the record for most scrimmage yards in a season, Johnson won the NFL's Offensive Player Of The Year award.

After a 10-year career that saw him play for The Titans, Jets, and Cardinals, Johnson called it a career in late 2018. In 2019, he'd sign a one-day contract to retire as a Titan. Since retiring, CJ2K has remained relevant with his podcast Smash & Dash and with various appearances on the NFL Network.

4 Philip Rivers

Head Football Coach At St. Michael Catholic High School In Alabama

Some players have the misfortune of playing in the wrong era. Philip Rivers is a great example of an exceptional Quarterback who had the misfortune of playing during a time when there was an abundance of great Quarterbacks. Rivers had to contend with the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger for the majority of his career with the Chargers.

By the time Rivers jumped to Indianapolis, making a quick adjustment to a new team was a tall task. After one lackluster year with the Colts, Rivers retired after the 2020 season. He flirted with coming out of retirement for the Colts in 2021 but ultimately stayed put. Today, Rivers is enjoying his new life as head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama. Rivers said this helps him fulfill a second lifelong childhood dream (via Sporting News).

"I had two childhood dreams. One was to play in the NFL, and I've been able to do that ... The other is to be a high school football coach as my dad did ... There is something about having a team, being part of a team, and competing with that scoreboard up there – it's in my blood, I guess."

3 Jason Witten

Lead Analyst role on ESPN's Monday Night Football

Before Tom Brady pulled a Michael Jordan in 2022, not too many high-profile NFL stars retired and then unretired. Jason Witten was one of the few exceptions. Witten initially retired in 2018 and accepted the Lead Analyst role on ESPN's Monday Night Football. After a less-than-successful season in the booth, Witten returned to The Dallas Cowboys in 2019. ​​​​

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In 2020, Witten signed with the Raiders but had a down year, only playing seven games for his new team. Witten retired for good after the 2020 season. Almost immediately after retiring, Witten became a hot name in the coaching circle. Despite interest from NFL and College teams, Witten ultimately became the Head Football Coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

2 Luke Kuechly

Worked With Both The Carolina Panthers & Buffalo Bills As A Scout

Despite the physical nature of the sport, not too many high-profile NFL stars have retired at the peak of their powers. In 2020, Luke Kuechly joined names like Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson as star players who called it quits in the middle of their prime. The star defensive lineman hung up his cleats at only 29 years old.

Kuechly cited health concerns as the driving force behind the decision. That star player had been the victim of some bad concussions and was worried about the effects his brain injuries would have down the line. Despite stepping away from the game, Kuechly has remained close. He served as a pro scout for Carolina for a couple of seasons and was even seen assisting The Buffalo Bills at practice in 2021. Seeing Kuechly transition to the sidelines soon wouldn't be a shocker.

1 Ben Roethlisberger

Hosts A Football And Craft Beer Podcast Called Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger

Over the last 20 years, perhaps no Quarterback was a reflection of the city they played for more than Ben Roethlisberger. "Big Ben" was a hard-nosed, physical player, even as a Quarterback. Unfortunately, this meant that by the end of his career, Roethlisberger's body was pretty beaten up. After missing nearly the entire 2019 season with an elbow injury, Roethlisberger bounced back in 2020 but struggled in 2021.

Despite making the playoffs in 2021, Roethlisberger's body would fail him at the end of the season, likely making his retirement decision easier. Roethlisberger has been seen at various sporting events in Pittsburgh since retiring and hosts a football and craft beer podcast called Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger.