Xavien Howard, a former professional bowler and All-Pro, has announced his retirement from the NFL.
The Indianapolis Colts confirmed on Wednesday that they have placed Howard on the reserve/retired list following his challenging performance in the recent loss to the Rams.
At 32, Howard leaves behind a nine-year NFL career, with eight of those seasons spent on the Dolphins before joining the Colts in August. Interestingly, he hadn’t played in 2024.
He participated in the first four games of the current season, registering 11 tackles and one fumble recovery.
In a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram, Howard mentioned, “During my time away from football in 2024, I focused on my kids, taking them to school, and watching them grow. It made me rethink my priorities.” He continued, “I used to put football first, but no longer. Today, I’m officially retired from the NFL.”
He emphasized the importance of family over football, saying, “This sport fulfilled my purpose, but my children matter more. I had a remarkable career, and while it ended in a unique way, I’m content knowing I put my family first.”
Howard faced difficulties during the game against the Rams, particularly against standout receiver Puka Nacua. Post-game stats indicated he allowed seven completions out of ten attempts for 112 yards and a touchdown, which placed him 156th out of 164 corners this season according to pro football analytics.
Following the defeat, Howard didn’t shy away from admitting he wasn’t at his best: “I know I can do better than this.”
Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo supported Howard, stressing that the team’s overall defense needs to improve. He noted, “When you’re up against elite quarterbacks and receivers, it’s clear we all need to step up. This isn’t just on X; it’s on all of us.”
Throughout his career, Howard led the league in interceptions, claiming seven in 2018 and ten in 2020, along with leading in pass defenses during that latter year.
Howard was drafted 38th overall by the Dolphins in 2016 and accumulated 29 interceptions and 342 tackles over his career.
Now without Howard, the Colts (3-1) are set to take on the Raiders (1-3) at home in Week 5.
