Philadelphia Eagles recruit Jaire Alexander ‘considering retirement’ as he steps away to ‘focus on physical and mental health’
Jaire Alexander is reportedly set to weigh up his NFL future after stepping away from the Philadelphia Eagles to ‘focus on getting right physically and mentally.’
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the former Pro Bowl cornerback, who was only traded to Philadelphia by the Baltimore Ravens last week, is considering retirement after telling the Eagles he is taking some time away from football.
Alexander, 28, underwent major knee surgery back in January and struggled for the Ravens upon his return, making just two appearances before being traded at the deadline in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
He told reporters last week that it was the best he has felt all year, but did not travel with the Super Bowl champions for their game against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, on Monday night due to a knee injury.
One day later, it was revealed that the two-time All-Pro has informed Philadelphia chiefs he is stepping away in order to ‘think through his next steps.’
Alexander played the first seven seasons of his NFL career with Green Bay before they released him in June.
Eagles recruit Jaire Alexander is set to weigh up retirement after stepping away from the team
The former Louisville college star was a 2018 first-round pick for the Packers, who gave him a four-year, $82million contract extension in 2022.
The extension was a deserved reward for Alexander after he became an integral member of Green Bay’s defense and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2022.
After being released over the summer, he signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in June before being traded to the Eagles within five months.
‘I think when you talk about [him] still [being] a young guy, knowing where his health is at now, feeling healthy, feeling good, we felt like the risk was worth the reward with him,’ Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said after acquiring Alexander and a 2027 seventh-round pick in the trade with Baltimore.
If Alexander hangs up his cleats, he will become the second Philadelphia player to retire in the 2025 season, after Za’Darius Smith did so abruptly last month.
Brandon Graham, meanwhile, came out of retirement for Nick Sirianni’s team last month after calling time on his career at the end of last year’s Super Bowl-winning campaign.
