Wide receiver Tavon Austin announces NFL retirement in heartfelt social media post

Tavon Austin will officially retire from the NFL after a nine-year career, he announced Tuesday via his Instagram account. The receiver had last played in 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in 13 games that season.

Austin was drafted No. 8 overall in the 2013 NFL Draft to the St. Louis Rams and played five seasons with the team. He also had brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. He ends his pro career with 244 catches for 2,239 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“No matter how hard you work or how badly you want something, sometimes God has other plans,” Austin wrote. “I wasn’t sure if I was ready to give up football, and it has been one of the most challenging decisions I have ever made. But after an incredible 10 years, I’m officially retiring from the NFL.

“…Football gave me more than a career. It gave me some lifelong friendships and molded so much of my character. It taught me how vital choices are and how decision-making affects you. Football created in me a mindset of relentless pursuit and hard work ethic. Football didn’t always love me back, but it will always be my first love! I will forever cherish the time I spent in the NFL.”

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A post shared by Tavon Austin (@tayawesome11)

Austin had the best years of his career with the Rams in 2015 and 2016. He caught a total of 110 passes across those two seasons for 982 yards and eight touchdowns.

Unfortunately, he would take a step back the following season to record only 13 catches for 47 yards. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys and would spend the next two years with the team.

Austin was never able to regain his momentum from those early years with the Rams. He was briefly signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad in 2022 before the team let him go in October of that year.

Austin played college football for West Virginia, where he is still the school’s all-time leading receiver with 288 catches for 3,413 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was a two-time All-American as a junior and senior, helping the Mountaineers to a 70-33 rout of Clemson in the 2011 Orange Bowl.

Although his time as a football player has come to an end, his career certainly came with plenty of good memories that he’ll carry with him as he begins his next chapter.