Sophia Michaels
Eric Decker has decided to retire from football. It has been my childhood dream and my passion to play. I was very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to do those dreams fulfilled. I love football and always will. It will continue to be part of my life.
Eric Decker announced his decision to retire from football in a statement on Instagram in August 2018. “It has been my childhood dream and my passion to play the game of football. I was very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to have those dreams fulfilled,” the former wide receiver wrote. Eric’s retirement followed a brief and unimpressive preseason stint with the New England Patriots. He also played for Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans during his eight-year career in the league. “I love football and always will,” Eric said. “It will continue to be part of my life.”
Eric’s wife, Jessie James Decker, supported his decision to finally “hang up his helmet” after expressing concern for his physical safety in a 2014 interview with USA Today’s For the Win. When speaking about Eric’s former Denver teammate Wes Welker — who’d suffered six reported concussions before his retirement in 2017 — Jessie said she would want her husband to quit playing if he suffered similar injuries. “I think any wife would be really, really concerned for their husband,” the singer said. “Of course I would tell Eric to stop.” Fortunately for Jessie and Eric, the former NFL pro was never burdened by concussions or head injuries during his time on the field. However, he did undergo surgery after sustaining a shoulder injury in 2016 and was placed on injured reserve by the Jets after being forced to miss two games.
