Tavon Austin, an NFL wide receiver and former standout from West Virginia, announced his retirement from sports on Tuesday via an Instagram post.
He wrote:
No matter how hard you work or how badly you want something, sometimes God has other plans,” he wrote. “I wasn’t sure if I was ready to give up football, and it has been one of the most challenging decisions I’ve ever made. But after an incredible ten years, I’m officially retiring from the NFL.
In both his junior and senior seasons, Austin, 33, recorded at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. He was a powerful player in college. He had an especially spectacular last season with the Mountaineers in 2012, catching 114 catches for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns in addition to 643 rushing yards and three more touchdowns. That season, he also scored two touchdowns on returns.
That more than attracted the attention of NFL scouts, and Austin was chosen with the eighth overall choice in the 2013 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.
Still, his NFL career never quite reached the heights of his college career. With the Rams in 2015, he had his finest season ever with 52 receptions for 473 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 434 yards and four more scores that season. His career-high 907 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns (he also scored on a kick return) demonstrated his exceptional versatility.
Before having miserable and injury-plagued stints with the Dallas Cowboys (2018–19), San Francisco 49ers (2020), Green Bay Packers (2020), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), and Buffalo Bills (2022), he was a member of the Rams through the 2017 season.
Football gave me more than a career
He wrote on his retirement post.
It gave me some lifelong friendships and molded so much of my character. It taught me how vital choices are and how decision-making affects you. Football created in me a mindset of relentless pursuit and hard work ethic! Football didn’t always love me back, but it will always be my first love! I will forever cherish the time I spent in the NFL. It has indeed been a privilege.
Do you think Tavon Austin who has one of the greatest college tapes of all time at his age and career has taken the right decision? Have your say in the comment section below:
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