Sony Michel retires from NFL after five-year career
Former Georgia running back Sony Michel is hanging up his cleats. According to several reports, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters that he and Michel met on Saturday morning. It was then that Michel informed McVay of his decision.
Michel signed with the Rams on June 20. He spent last season across town with the Chargers and was an offseason member of the Miami Dolphins this time last year. Michel had previously suited up for the Rams during the 2021 season, helping the franchise to a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals – the second of Michel’s career. Prior to that, the entirety of his time in the league had been spent with the New England Patriots who drafted him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
In five seasons, Michel totaled 779 carries for 3,243 yards and 18 touchdowns. In his first two seasons combined, he had 1,843 yards and 13 of those scores.
As a rookie, Michel scored six touchdowns in the postseason, a rookie record in just three games. He had just three touchdowns over the course of 13 games in the regular season. Doing so helped the Patriots to a Super Bowl LII victory over the Rams in Atlanta, returning to Michel’s backyard from his collegiate career as a Bulldog.
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Michel put together an outstanding career at Georgia, leaving Athens as the program’s third-leading rusher in school history. Behind only Herschel Walker and Michel’s backfield mate Nick Chubb, the South Florida product totaled 3,638 yards on the ground, 621 yards receiving and 39 total touchdowns.
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Helping UGA win the SEC for the first time in over a decade, getting revenge for a regular season loss to rival Auburn in the process, Michel and the Bulldogs advanced to the College Football Playoffs in just their second season under the direction of head coach Kirby Smart. There they made some noise – Michel in particular – with a memorable win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.
Michel earned MVP honors scoring the game-winning touchdown from 27 yards out in double overtime to send Georgia to the National Championship Game. It came as the culmination of an 11-carry, 181-yard and 3-touchdown performance on the ground, also adding a 13-yard receiving score.
In total during his senior season, Michel managed to rush for 1,227 yards and 16 scores on 156 carries. He also added 96 yards and another touchdown on nine receptions.
Michel, a five-star product out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., signed with Georgia in the Class of 2014. He was the No. 19 overall player and fourth-ranked running back according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
