Amari Cooper Plans to Retire Before 2025 NFL Season
Veteran NFL wide receiver Amari Cooper has informed the Las Vegas Raiders of his intention to retire from football, aiming to step away before the 2025 season.
Cooper, who has played for teams like the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills, initially started his NFL journey with the Raiders. While he mentions he still has some drive to continue playing, reports have surfaced suggesting he faced challenges during preparations for the game as the new season approached. At 31, after a decade in the league, he appears ready to move on.
Cooper was drafted by the Raiders in 2015, coming from Alabama as the fourth overall pick. During his time with the franchise, he accumulated impressive stats—3,183 yards, 225 receptions, and 19 touchdowns in just 52 games, earning three Pro Bowl selections.
In mid-2018, the Raiders traded him to the Cowboys, a decision that reflected a complete overhaul of their roster at the time. He quickly became a pivotal player for quarterback Dak Prescott, amassing 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns over 56 games. The Cowboys saw enough in his talent to lock him into a lucrative five-year, $100 million contract in March 2020.
However, during the 2022 season, the Cowboys traded him to the Cleveland Browns due to salary cap issues. Cooper spent part of three seasons with Cleveland, where he caught 174 passes for 2,660 yards and 16 touchdowns across 38 games. His 2024 campaign started with the Browns, but he was traded again, this time to the Bills. Although he caught a touchdown from star quarterback Josh Allen in Buffalo, his impact did not meet expectations, as he only managed one other touchdown throughout the regular season.
In total, Cooper has recorded 711 receptions, 10,033 yards, and 64 touchdowns over his career. It’s certainly a significant accomplishment, even if his final chapter in the NFL is approaching. With these stats, he leaves an undeniable mark on the game, reminiscent of the talent he showcased throughout his time on multiple teams.
