{"id":850686,"date":"2026-04-03T04:27:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T04:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/850686\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T04:27:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T04:27:32","slug":"veteran-nfl-linebacker-announces-immediate-retirement-at-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/850686\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran NFL linebacker announces immediate retirement at 30"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anthony Walker Jr., who played the last of his nine NFL<\/a> seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025, announced his immediate retirement from football in a post to his Instagram account<\/a> April 2.<\/p>\n

MORE: Vikings announce tragic death of six-time NFL Pro Bowler<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTHANK YOU FOOTBALL!\u201d Walker wrote. \u201cGod, I don\u2019t know how and why but thank you for all You\u2019ve done and will do for me. Thank you football for 26 years of blood, sweat and tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walker played 101 games for the Indianapolis Colts (2017-20), Cleveland Browns (2021-23), Miami Dolphins (2024), and Buccaneers (2025) in his career. Walker retires with 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 581 combined tackles, including 26 for a loss.<\/p>\n

A Miami native, the Colts originally drafted Walker with their fifth-round pick out of Northwestern in 2017. He played four seasons in Indianapolis and started all 16 games in each of his last two seasons.<\/p>\n

MORE: Former Jets quarterback announces immediate retirement at 31<\/a><\/p>\n

Walker signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Cleveland in March 2021. He then re-signed one-year contracts with the Browns the next two years.<\/p>\n

After Walker spent the 2024 season in Miami, the Colts brought him onto their practice squad for the 2025 season. However, he never appeared in a game with Indianapolis before the Buccaneers claimed him on December 15.<\/p>\n

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Jun 11, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (3) works out at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Walker\u2019s retirement announcement drew a range of congratulatory comments on his Instagram post, including from the Colts\u2019 and Dolphins\u2019 official accounts.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongrats boy,\u201d former Browns teammate Rashard Higgins wrote. \u201cGod have your way in this next phase of life for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: Tributes pour in as winningest executive in NFL history dies at 89<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cProud of you bro!\u201d former Colts teammate Shaquille Leonard wrote. \u201cCongratulations on a hell of a career!\u201d Former Colts teammate Zaire Franklin also chimed in, saying, \u201cReal PRO \ud83d\udcaf Well Done looking forward to the next chapter,\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Oct 17, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Anthony Walker (4) enters the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cMy OG! Appreciate you for everything brudda 4L,\u201d former Browns teammate Tony Fields II wrote. former Browns teammate Jedrick Wills Jr. added, \u201cCongrats big bru! Blessings \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\u201d<\/p>\n

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