Cleveland Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks is stepping away from football after a decade-long career in the NFL, he announced via Instagram. Hicks, age 33, did not report to the opening sessions of Browns' training camp due to personal reasons, before dropping the retirement news just as the team prepared to head into the third day.
In the statement obtained by the official Cleveland Browns website, Hicks reflected on his career, "After 23 years of playing football, I am officially retiring from the NFL. Football has given me more than I could have ever imagined. Purpose, discipline, brotherhood, and a platform to impact others. But most importantly it showed me who I am outside the game." He expressed "deep gratitude for every lesson, challenge, and victory," and looked forward to the next chapter of his life.
News 5 Cleveland reported that Hicks signed a two-year contract with the Browns in 2024, playing in 12 games last season before being sidelined due to an injury. The former third-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, Hicks recorded 78 tackles, four for loss, two sacks, and four passes defended during his stint with Cleveland.
The announcement comes as a second hit to the Browns' linebacker corps, which had already lost Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to a neck injury, leaving them without their top two inside linebackers from the previous season. Despite this setback, the Browns' depth chart includes Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, second-round pick Carson Schwesinger, and veteran Jerome Baker. In response to the sudden change, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated before Friday's practice, "When you lose a player due to injury, or retirement or whatever, there's opportunities that come up for younger players and in this day and age, young players play early at these positions," as per ESPN.
During his career, Hicks was known for his durability and consistency on the field, amassing 952 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and 13 interceptions in 134 games played (131 starts). With his retirement, the Cleveland Browns are tasked with rebuilding their linebacker depth and integrating the next generation of players into the fold, including the highly anticipated role increase for rookie Carson Schwesinger. Hicks ends his football journey on his own terms, with an impressive career and a legacy of sportsmanship and team leadership behind him.
