Todd Gurley reveals mindset after not playing in the NFL last season

Todd Gurley is simply chillin’ — not a worry, or a football in his line of sight.

The former Georgia star was once the shining light of the National Football League at the running back position. However, life comes at you fast in the NFL, and Gurley missed the entire 2021 season. He wasn’t injured, and some athletes may take the lack of interest as disrespect.

Not Gurley.

Todd Gurley had this to say about missing the 2021 season. pic.twitter.com/m3ZZhf0YpA

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 28, 2022

“There was never not one time where I watched a game and was like, ‘I wish I was out there.” I appreciated my time in the league and I’ve done things I could have never even dreamed about,” Gurley said, speaking about missing the 2021 season via NBCLX.com.

Appreciated; done. As you can see, Gurley is talking about his time in the NFL in the past tense. Is the former Georgia star de-facto retired after spending last season on the sidelines? Gurley’s comments seem to lean that way.

Once a superstar, Gurley’s light began to dim during the first Super Bowl run by the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. Instead of feeding Gurley, the cunning coach decided to give C.J. Anderson a lion-share of the team’s carriers — who the Rams signed just weeks prior to the post-season.

In five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Gurley earned two first-team All-Pro honors and three Pro Bowls. But his knee injuries have caught up to him after years of heavy work. Two seasons ago, Gurley was clearly slowed in Atlanta. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on 195 totes — a career-low — for 679 yards and nine touchdowns. Gurley was slow to cut and had little of the burst that made him a star earlier in his career.

A between-the-tackles runner not adept at gaining the edge quickly at this stage, he earned what the offensive line blocked for him and little more on most carries.

Still, Todd Gurley made his impact on the NFL, earning every accolade that came to him during his NFL career. Nevertheless, it’ll always be a matter of what-if with Gurley, as there was no more electrifying running back in the league when he was healthy.