Jan. 22, 2026, 5:36 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions offensive lineman, Dan Skipper, announced on Thursday that he is retiring after nine years in the NFL.
Skipper took to social media to make the announcement, sharing the emotion of leaving the game that he loves so deeply, including a nod to the eligibility reporting mishap.
“24 years of putting on pads and a helmet every fall. This year I’ll trade that out to pursue a career on the other side in coaching. The memories and experiences that the NFL has brought me and my family are hard to put into words. Thankful for every person that has been apart of my journey.
“It’s time for me to ‘report’ as retired,” Skipper wrote in his Instagram announcement.
Skipper ends his NFL career having played in 69 NFL games and making 16 starts with the Lions.
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Skipper kicked off his NFL career in 2017 as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. After being waived by the Cowboys, Skipper signed to the Lions’ 2017 practice squad and was briefly elevated to the active roster that season.
After bouncing around to a few other teams (Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Houston Texans), Skipper rejoined the Lions where he made a name for himself and found a home. Skipper would also have brief stints in the Raiders and Colts‘ organizations.
Late in the 2023 season, Skipper even became known as the “eligible receiver” after officials incorrectly announced him as reporting eligible, which had grave consequences for a potential game-winning two-point conversion against none other than the Dallas Cowboys.
For Skipper, however, he has far more accomplishments than that unofficial title:
69 games played, 16 startsPart of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII champion squadHad a 9-yard touchdown reception in 2024 versus Buffalo
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Skipper will volunteer as an offensive line coach at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl.
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