A 23-year NFL veteran has announced a sudden retirement, but it's not Jason Pierre-Paul.
After more than a decade in the NFL, veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is calling it a career.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report, Hankins has officially informed him of his decision to retire, bringing an end to a successful 12-year run in professional football.
Hankins entered the NFL as the No. 49 overall selection in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft after a standout collegiate career at Ohio State. He quickly carved out a role with the New York Giants, where he spent the first four seasons of his professional career from 2013 through 2016.
His best statistical season came in 2014, when he recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks while continuing to anchor the middle of New York's defensive front.
Following his departure from New York, Hankins continued to prove his value as a reliable veteran. He spent the 2017 season with the Indianapolis Colts before making stops with the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders, the Dallas Cowboys, and eventually the Seattle Seahawks.
Throughout his career, Hankins appeared in 169 regular-season games while serving as one of the NFL's premier run-stuffing defensive tackles. Although he was never known for eye-popping sack totals, his ability to occupy blockers and disrupt opposing rushing attacks made him an important contributor everywhere he played.
Hankins may not have been one of the league's flashiest stars, but he earned widespread respect for his durability, consistency, and willingness to do the dirty work in the trenches. His retirement marks the end of an era for a player who quietly established himself as one of football's most dependable interior defensive linemen over the past decade.
The NFL community will likely remember Hankins for his longevity and work ethic, as he leaves behind a legacy of 12 seasons, multiple playoff appearances, and time with five different franchises.
Source: Yahoo Sports