49ers DE Bryce Huff becomes latest NFL star to abruptly retire at 27
The latest NFL player to hang it up in his 20s after making millions of dollars is San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff, who announced his retirement Thursday after six seasons.
Huff, 27, made $40.5 million during his career, according to OverTheCap, and was under contract for one more season.
Less than two weeks ago, another NFL star, 27, abruptly retired. Highly regarded Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman is walking away with two years remaining on a three-year, $42 million contract.
Dalman did not explain why he retired, but his father, Chris Dalman, was an offensive lineman for the 49ers in the 1990s. He retired at age 29 after suffering a neck injury that left him temporarily paralyzed.
Huff released a statement explaining his reasons. It appears that his main motive has nothing to do with his health. He said he founded a company with his brother Jordan, called Naberstone, which aims to prevent dangerous lithium-ion battery fires.
“It’s time to start the next chapter of my life,” Huff said on Instagram. “Lithium-ion batteries power the modern world, but they carry a fire risk that current suppression technology was never designed to solve. We are building safety infrastructure specifically for this problem.”
“This mission will save lives and protect critical infrastructure as battery technology continues to evolve. I can’t ask people who believe in this mission to go all in if I’m not ready to do the same. Football has given me everything and now it’s time for me to give it my all for something new.”
And as a bonus, there is virtually no risk of repeated helmet-to-helmet hits linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy and early dementia.
A 2023 Boston University study found that 91.7% of nearly 400 postmortem brains of former NFL players contained CTE, a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma. This condition is linked to dementia, cognitive decline and an increased risk of suicide.
Not long ago, most NFL players were financially incentivized to play as long as possible because their earnings were not enough to guarantee lifelong financial stability. The risk of serious injury – including concussions – was simply the price of remaining employed.
Huff was an undrafted free agent who played in college at Memphis before signing with the New York Jets in 2020. After four seasons, he left for a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles, but injuries limited him in 2024 and he was inactive for the team’s Super Bowl victory.
He was traded to the 49ers and played in 15 games last season, starting eight of them. He finished his career with 24 sacks and 108 tackles.
Huff’s explanation for why he retired mentioned a nagging wrist injury.
“At first I let things affect the way I approached my work and by the time I came to my senses I tore a ligament in my wrist,” he said. “This injury forced me to take a step back and really evaluate what mattered in my life.
“That led me to San Francisco, where I was able to reset the system I understood with a group of guys I respected. We battled through injuries, fought our way to the playoffs and gave it everything we had.”
“Through it all, I realized something. Football has been my whole life. I’ve played since I was 4 years old, but at 27, I know I’m capable of giving the world more than football. The game taught me perseverance, it taught me discipline, it taught me how to lead and find a way forward when things seem impossible.”
