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In what normally would be one of the most shocking news stories of the day, a 26-year-old former No. 8-overall pick retired from the NFL. Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker announced his retirement after four seasons in the NFL. Locker’s retirement will be buried under the insane amount of signings and trades that went down in the NFL on Tuesday, but it might be the most surprising.
Locker was a highly-touted prospect throughout his playing days at the University of Washington. Expected to be selected with the first-overall pick once he declared, Locker fell to the Titans at the No. 8 spot in the 2011 draft. He was a major disappointment and never proved he could be the franchise quarterback Tennessee hoped he would develop into. Even with his struggles and mediocre play throughout his career, Locker likely would have been able to sign a contract for a few million dollars in free agency.
“I am retiring from football after much reflection and discussion with my family,” Locker said in a statement. “I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the NFL and for the lifelong relationships I developed because of that experience. Football has always played a pivotal role in my life and I love the game, but I no longer have the burning desire to play the game for a living; to continue to do so would be unfair to the next organization with whom I would eventually sign. I realize this decision is surprising to many, but I know in my heard that it is the right decision and I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other interests.”
