After 13 seasons with three teams, Eric Weddle is calling it a career. The two-time first-team All-Pro safety announced his retirement on Twitter Thursday, saying “it’s been real” and thanking his former teams, the Chargers, Ravens and Rams.
He also listed his accomplishments in the NFL, which include six Pro Bowls and 30 interceptions, leaving the game as one of the best safeties of his generation.
It's been REAL @NFL @Chargers @Ravens @RamsNFL! TEAMMATES, COACHES and others I LOVE y'all. We had a GREAT RUN!!!!! ✌✌#BEARDOUT 🎤 pic.twitter.com/C3VGwnMCc7
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) February 6, 2020
Weddle still had one year left on his contract with the Rams, but he openly stated that he wasn’t going to return to Los Angeles as a backup in 2020. With John Johnson set to return from injury and Taylor Rapp establishing himself as a starter, the writing was on the wall for Weddle’s role.
Rather than testing the free-agent market and trying to land with another team, he’s opted to leave the game on his terms, having undergone only one surgery in his career (which happened this offseason).
Weddle only missed seven games in his career and finished with 1,179 tackles, 98 passes defensed and five touchdowns (one fumble return, four pick-sixes).