Former Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst, 32, announces retirement after seven NFL seasons

Former Baltimore Ravens choky extremity Hayden Hurst, who pivoted to shot aft a little vocation successful Major League Baseball, announced his status connected Monday aft 7 years successful the NFL. 

The 32-year-old pro, who past played successful the league for the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2024 season, announced his determination with a lengthy station connected societal media.

Atlanta Falcons choky extremity Hayden Hurst (81) catches a touchdown against the Detroit Lions extracurricular linebacker Charles Harris (53) during the 4th fourth astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Dec. 26, 2021. (Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports)

"About a twelvemonth overdue but beingness sped up connected maine these past 12 months.... I privation to convey everyone that has been a portion of my travel and helped maine navigate this brainsick beingness implicit the past 15 years of my sports journey," helium wrote successful an Instagram caption. "From my precocious schoolhouse days astatine Bolles, to getting drafted by the Pirates, walking connected astatine South Carolina and past making the leap to the NFL. It is simply a blessing however acold sports took maine successful this life." 

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Hurst was a two-sport jock successful Florida earlier getting drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates successful the 17th circular of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made 1 insignificant league quality arsenic a pitcher, walking 5 batters and signaling 1 out.

He opted to spell to assemblage and prosecute a shot career, yet getting drafted by the Ravens arsenic the 25th wide prime successful the 2018 NFL Draft aft 3 years astatine South Carolina. 

"When I was stuck successful a dorm country astatine 18 years aged successful Pirate City, reasoning my sports vocation was over, I ne'er thought I’d crook it into a 7 twelvemonth NFL vocation but l enactment my caput down and worked. I was determined to marque shot enactment aft shot failed me, and I ne'er fto anyone archer maine I couldn’t bash anything," helium added successful his status post. 

Baltimore Ravens choky extremity Hayden Hurst (81) jogs connected the tract anterior to the crippled against the Buffalo Bills astatine New Era Field successful Orchard Park, New York, connected Dec. 8, 2019. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)

TRAVIS KELCE CREDITS TAYLOR SWIFT FOR HELPING MOTIVATE HIS RETURN TO THE CHIEFS

"I wouldn’t alteration a happening astir my career, the ups and downs made maine excavation deep, speech to God much and find retired who I was inside. The answer: a fighter. I fought regular to beryllium the champion mentation of myself that I could and I anticipation it showed connected the tract with the passionateness I played with each drawback and each game." 

Hurst was traded to the Atlanta Falcons aft 2 seasons with the Ravens, wherever helium recorded a career-high of 571 yards and six touchdowns. He besides played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers and the Chargers.

Carolina Panthers choky extremity Hayden Hurst (81) is tackled aft a reception against the Chicago Bears during the 4th fourth astatine Soldier Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected Nov. 9, 2023. (Daniel Bartel/USA TODAY Sports)

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"From Columbia to Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Los Angeles I got to spot the world! I’m genuinely astatine bid announcing my status contiguous due to the fact that I checked each container athletically I wanted to," helium said Tuesday. "Now it’s clip to beryllium backmost and beryllium the champion hubby and begetter I tin be!"

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