Veteran Cornerback Ronald Darby Announces NFL Retirement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby has informed the Houston Texans that he is retiring from the NFL.
Darby, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Texans in March after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he appeared in 12 games during his only season with the team in 2024.
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A second-round pick out of Florida State in 2015, where he helped the Seminoles win a national championship, Darby was selected by the Buffalo Bills and made an immediate impact, finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He started 15 games that season, recording 68 tackles and two interceptions.
Over the course of his 10-year NFL career, Darby played in 118 games and made 107 starts, recording 447 tackles and eight interceptions.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) on the sidelines.© Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Maryland native also won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, even though his season was cut short by an ACL tear in November.
Darby’s retirement does leave a noticeable gap in Houston’s secondary as the projected cornerback duo now consists of All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, both prone to injury.
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Stingley played in just 20 of his first 34 games while Lassiter missed three games during his first year due to a shoulder injury and a concussion.
The backup group includes Myles Bryant, D’Angelo Ross, Tremon Smith, third-round rookie from Iowa State Jaylin Smith and undrafted free agent Alijah Huzzie.
If either starter does miss time, Darby’s absence will test the rest of the group that has combined for just 25 career starts.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.