Three years after retiring at age 25, former Los Angeles Chargers safety Nasir Adderley is returning to the NFL.
In an Instagram post Monday, Adderley, who is now 28, released a statement announcing he would be ending his retirement and returning to the field.
“It’s now been three years since I left the NFL, and I am extremely happy with my development,” Adderley said. “Health, family and entrepreneurship were my top priorities, and I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. The freedom to manage my own schedule was very important to me, but what I didn’t realize was how much I’d miss having football in my life.”
“The competition, the brotherhood and just being involved in the game that means so much to me and my family,” Adderley continued. “Therefore, I am officially announcing my intention to return to the NFL.”
Because his contract ended in 2022, the Chargers do not own his rights and he is a free agent, meaning several teams could be interested in signing him.
Adderley, a Philadelphia native who went to college at the University of Delaware, was selected in the second round by the Chargers in the 2019 draft.
He spent four seasons with the team. In 2022, his final season with the Chargers, Adderley started 15 of the 16 games he played, finishing with two interceptions, four pass breakups, 62 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
He also had his best year in coverage, allowing only one touchdown, and quarterbacks had only an 83.6 rating when throwing in his direction.