Jets Corey Davis Announces Retirement After 6 Seasons: Why?

At the age of 28, wide receiver for the New York Jets Corey Davis has made the decision to leave the NFL.

For the Jets and new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Davis was recently expected to be the starting wide receiver, but he has opted to leave the game. Davis provided an explanation for his choice to retire despite being in his prime in a message published on his social media channels.

Jets Corey Davis Announces Retirement After 6 Seasons: Why?

After six seasons in the NFL, veteran wide receiver Corey Davis of the New York Jets announced his retirement.

On social media, Davis shared a message outlining his choice.

“For some time now I’ve been contemplating stepping away from the sport of football. This decision has not been easy. Although I am a deep person, I am a man of few words. I’ve been searching my heart for what to do and I feel that stepping away from the game is the best path for me at this time.

“I have more blessings than I could have ever imagined – I have an amazing family, a beautiful wife and two healthy children that I look forward to spending more time with.

“I am truly grateful for all the opportunities I have had and will continue to have on my journey. Thank you to my family and friends and the Jets organization for supporting me through this process.”

Davis was still slated for a significant role even though the Jets have rising youngster Garrett Wilson as their primary option and Rodgers has added his two favourite Green Bay Packers receivers, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, to the squad.

In the last year of a three-year, $37.5 million deal, Davis was due to make $10.5 million, but the Jets presumably would have insisted that he accept a pay reduction to stay below the wage cap.

Now that the money has been deducted from their limit for this season, they have around $19.5 million open to make new moves.

Davis has also spoken openly about his physical and emotional challenges upon joining the Jets.

It all began tragically in November 2020 when his older brother Titus passed away from renal cancer. The next day, Davis took the field for the Titans, and he fought through the rest of the season’s games using his brother’s memories as inspiration.

Although his first year in New York didn’t go as expected, he would eventually sign a contract with the Jets after recording a career-high 984 yards on 65 receptions with five touchdowns in his fourth season. He only played nine games due to injuries.

Between the sorrow of losing his brother and having to deal with injuries when he knew he was the team’s top receiving option, Davis admitted he went through a “pretty rough” time.

“I was just going through a little bit mentally,” Davis told the AP prior to the start of the 2022 season. “The past couple of years have been pretty rough and I feel like I haven’t really had the time to kind of dissect everything. I mean, I lost my brother and my homie, my best friend, and I never really had time to breathe after that happened. And I feel like this offseason was the first time I really, you know, kind of had the time to think about it and actually put him to rest.

“But it was difficult. I got through it and I’m better because of it.”

Robert Saleh, the Jets’ head coach, usually only addresses the media at training camp early in the day before practice, but following Davis’ announcement, he returned to the podium.

“My heart goes out to him and his family. We’ll always support him with any decision he makes. We’re always here if he needs us,” Saleh said. “We were aware of it and just tried to support him and his family in any decision that they decided to go with. Selfishly, obviously, we’d love for him to play.

“He’s an unbelievable man, an unbelievable player. But at the same time, he’s also an unbelievable father, husband and friend. … So, I’m excited for him, obviously, in this new journey but at the same time, always for  him to know, he always has a family here.”

Two players from the group that consists of Jason Brownlee, Xavier Gipson, Malik Taylor, and Irv Charles might join the team as a result of Davis’ departure.

“It’s an opportunity for somebody else to step up over the next week and a half,” Saleh said. “It opens the door for someone who may have been on the outside looking in, and they’ve got a chance to push the door open.

Naturally, we lose Corey, who was a fantastic leader, role model, and seasoned presence. However, it also provides a pathway for someone else.

During his two seasons with the Jets, Davis caught 66 receptions for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns in 22 games.

After the news, two of his colleagues addressed the media and expressed their support for his choice.

It’s kind of sad, but we support him and his family,” linebacker Quincy Williams said. “Rich dude. Good locker-room guy, too, on the field and off the field.”

“Life is bigger than football. We play this game. This is something that we do. But this is not who we are,” Cobb added. “I wish him well. I’m going to be in his corner.”

The 28-year-old is now concentrating on life beyond football, where he claims there will be more family time available.

In 78 games, Davis finished his NFL career with 3,879 receiving yards on 273 receptions and 17 touchdowns.

 

 

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