A.J. Klein is calling it a career. The veteran linebacker announced on Instagram that he’s decided to retire.
“Today is the first birthday I’ve celebrated not at a training camp in 15 years and it only seemed fitting to celebrate two milestones on this day,” Klein wrote in part of his statement. “Today, I’m proud to announce that I’m officially retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons.”
A 2013 fifth-round pick out of Iowa State, Klein found a home in Carolina to begin his career. He never emerged as a true full-time starter, but he still started 23 of his 60 appearances while getting into about a third of his team’s defensive snaps. He caught on with the Saints via a three-year, $15MM deal in 2017 and ended up starting 42 of his 43 appearances in New Orleans.
His best statistical season came after he joined the Bills on a three-year pact in 2020. He finished that campaign with career-highs in tackles (70) and sacks (five). He saw a reduced role in 2021, and he bounced between a handful of teams (including the Giants, Ravens, and Bears) before landing back in Buffalo to end the 2022 season. He ended up sticking around with the Bills for the 2023 season while spending the majority of the year on the practice squad.
Klein will finish his career having collected 465 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles.