Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons has informed the team he plans to retire, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Clemons, 34, saw action with five different teams during his 12-year NFL career, but his most productive seasons came in Seattle. After going undrafted out of Georgia in 2003 and then combining for 20 sacks in stints with the Redskins, Raiders and Eagles over the first five years of his career, Clemons joined the Seahawks in 2010 and went on to collect 38 sacks in a four-season span. Clemons totaled at least 11 sacks in each individual season from 2010-12, also forcing seven fumbles during that period.
The Seahawks, with whom Clemons missed only two of a possible 64 regular-season games, released him at the conclusion of their Super Bowl-winning 2013-14 campaign. He subsequently became a member of the Jaguars, with whom he tallied 11 sacks and five forced fumbles in all 32 regular-season games from 2014-15. Most of Clemons’ production (eight sacks, four forced fumbles) in Jacksonville came in 2014. His play fell off so significantly last season that Pro Football Focus ranked him dead last among 110 qualifying edge defenders.
Clemons’ struggles in 2015 caused the Jaguars to release him in March. He then rejoined the Seahawks on a one-year, $1.5MM contract in April, but Clemons has decided nearly four months later to walk away from the sport. In 163 career regular-season games (85 starts), Clemons amassed 276 tackles, 69 sacks and 18 forced fumbles. PFR wishes him the best in his retirement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.