Bryce Huff, Jets
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Former New York Jets pass rusher Bryce Huff warming up ahead of an NFL game against the New England Patriots.
A former New York Jets fan favorite is hanging up the cleats.
Bryce Huff has announced his sudden retirement from the NFL at the age of 27.
“I’m retiring from football,” Huff said in an Instagram video he posted.
“I wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl or the Combine. I entered the NFL with a massive chip on my shoulder and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. Thanks to coach Gregg Williams and Blake Williams, I earned a roster spot my first year. I spent countless hours learning everything I could about the game,” Huff said.
“When coach [Robert] Saleh arrived my second year, he and his staff helped me become the best version of myself. My four years in New York will always mean a lot to me. That locker room built me,” Huff stated.
Huff’s time in New York led him to become the highest-paid non-QB undrafted free agent in NFL history. He signed a three-year $51.1 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 that included $34 million in total guarantees.
Huff explained that the reason he is retiring is that he realized at the age of 27, “I know I’m capable of giving the world more than just football.”
An Incredible Journey With the Jets
Making it in the NFL is a difficult task. There is a small percentage of people who have ever laced up cleats to play at this level.
The chances are minimal of coming in as an undrafted free agent and trying to make an NFL roster. Those chances were especially small when Huff entered the league in 2020. It was the middle of the COVID pandemic and there was less of an evaluation process than ever before because of restrictions.
Despite those long odds, Huff overcame them to make the Jets as an undrafted free agent. He overcame those humble beginnings to become a legitimate player with the Jets.
The former Memphis product was with the Jets for four seasons from 2020 through 2023. He appeared in 54 games and made seven starts. With those opportunities, Huff collected 17.5 sacks, 43 quarterback hits, three pass deflections, a forced fumble, 17 tackles for loss, and 65 total tackles.
Huff Can Walk Away From the Game as a Very Happy Man
27 is a very young age to be walking away from the NFL. Especially when you have a choice.
In every year of Huff’s career, he had at least two sacks. This past season, he had four sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and six tackles for loss in just eight starts with the San Francisco 49ers. He reunited with his old ball coach, Robert Saleh.
If Huff wanted to, he could have continued his career as a rotational pass rusher for many more years and could have made millions more.
He is choosing to walk away with his health and so much more. Huff won a Super Bowl ring during his lone season with Philadelphia (2024). According to Spotrac, Huff made over $40 million in career earnings. Now he will get to go and enjoy it.