On February 28, offensive lineman Austin Blythe defied expectations by announcing that he was hanging up his jersey after seven seasons in the NFL. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the athlete reminisced about his time on the field and expressed gratitude to those who had supported him. “I always told myself I wouldn’t do some long winded retirement post, but I’m not sure how to leave behind a game that’s afforded myself, and my family, so many opportunities without giving it at least some words,” he began. “For a short, unathletic, undersized kid from Iowa, I’ve played a lot of football, met countless coaches and teammates that I can call friends, and made enough memories for myself and my family to last a lifetime.”
The comments under Blythe’s retirement post were filled with congratulations from his former teammates, including Brian Allen from his time with the Los Angeles Rams, who wrote, “You were a big brother in the league that I needed and have always looked up to.”
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But many fans were surprised by the announcement. “what happenduhhh,” one Twitter user questioned. Some were probably hoping he would pull a Tom Brady and backpedal, but ultimately fans got over the initial shock and sent Blythe some much-deserved appreciation. “D*** man, congrats,” one fan lamented on his Instagram. “Sorry to see you go but happy to see you embrace the next chapter! So enjoyed watching you be a hawk!”
