william stanback
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Former Las Vegas Raiders RB William Stanback.
Former Las Vegas Raiders running back William Stanback is officially done with football. The former UCF star took to Instagram to announce that he’s retiring at the age of 31.
“I leave the field knowing I gave it everything I had,” Stanback wrote on Instagram. “The dream doesn’t end here — it just evolves. Thank You Football.”
Stanback first got a chance at the NFL level when he was an undrafted free agent signing of the Green Bay Packers in 2017. He wasn’t able to catch on in the NFL, but became a star in the Canadian Football League.
He was a two-time CFL All-Star and led the CFL in rushing yards in 2021. His run in the CFL led to the Raiders giving him a chance. He spent most of the 2020 offseason but was let go before the season started.
He went back to the CFL and played through the 2025 season. Once he turned 30, it was going to be very difficult for him to get a chance to play in the NFL again, so it’s not a surprise that he has decided to step away from football.
Raiders Looking to Add RB
The Raiders used a top-10 pick to draft Ashton Jeanty last year, and expectations are still very high for him after a lackluster rookie season. However, the team wants another running back to pair him with.
They have looked at veterans and prospects in the upcoming draft class. ESPN’s Ryan McFadden gave the latest intel on the Raiders’ running back search.
“Las Vegas has yet to address its need for a running back who can be a suitable wingman for Ashton Jeanty, the team’s No. 6 overall pick in 2025,” McFadden wrote. “The Raiders hosted former Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris for a visit last week, according to the league’s transaction wire.
“However, if a deal doesn’t materialize with him or another free agent running back, Las Vegas could target one in the late rounds of the draft. Indiana’s Kaelon Black could be an option for the Raiders. He played a significant role in the Hoosiers’ rushing attack, totaling 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns on 186 carries.”
Jon Gruden Had to Be Convinced to Draft Josh Jacobs
Arguably, the best running back the Raiders have had in the 21st century was Josh Jacobs. He’s a multi-time Pro Bowler who also led the NFL in rushing when he was with the Raiders in 2022.
However, he almost never joined the team. According to a new report from The Athletic’s Zak Keefer, former general manager Mike Mayock had to convince former head coach Jon Gruden to select Jacobs in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“Of those four picks inside the top 40, only running back Josh Jacobs — whom Mayock had to convince Gruden to come around on, according to some in the room — proved a hit,” Keefer wrote.
Jacobs was the best first-round pick the Raiders made during Gruden and Mayock’s tenure, but he nearly played elsewhere. Now that Jacobs is with the Green Bay Packers, the hope is that Jeanty can prove to be a worthy long-term replacement.