Latest news with #RonaldDarby
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-Broncos cornerback's retirement was 'totally unexpected'
Ex-Broncos cornerback's retirement was 'totally unexpected' A former Denver Broncos cornerback is hanging up his cleats. Ronald Darby informed the Houston Texans earlier this week that he planned to retire, and the veteran has since been placed on the club's reserve/retired list. Darby's sudden retirement was "totally unexpected," according to KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson. The 31-year-old defensive back is walking away from the game after previously signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract this spring. After signing that deal, Darby didn't even make it to training camp. Darby originally entered the league as a second-round pick out of Florida State with the Buffalo Bills in 2015. He spent time with seven NFL teams during his career, including a stint with the Broncos from 2021-2022. Denver signed Darby to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2021 and he was healthy for 11 starts that year. He then started five games in 2022 before tearing his ACL. After returning from that injury, Darby was cut by the Broncos during the 2023 offseason. He totaled 67 tackles, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble in 16 games in Denver. Following his Broncos tenure, Darby played 16 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and 13 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last fall. He's now calling it a career with 447 career tackles, 106 pass breakups and eight interceptions on his resume. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Bills CB Ronald Darby retires from the NFL
Former Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby is hanging up the cleats after 10 seasons in the NFL. The 31-year-old product of Florida State retired, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. A second-round pick by the Bills in 2015, Darby was an important piece to the Bills defense in the Rex Ryan era. He started 29 games across 2015 and 2016, intercepting two passes and recording 33 PBUs. Advertisement Darby finished second in defensive rookie of the year voting following the 2015 season where he thrived in Ryan's man-heavy approach. In his first career NFL game, he intercepted Colts four-time Pro Bowler Andrew Luck: When the Sean McDermott regime took over in Buffalo prior to the 2017 season, they cleaned house, trading Darby to the Eagles for wide receiver Jordan Matthews. They also traded WR Sammy Watkins to the Rams that day. Darby won the Super Bowl as a starting cornerback in his first year in Philadelphia (SB LII) while playing every snap in the big game. Impressively, Darby started 78 more games in his career after leaving the Bills, playing for five more teams over eight seasons. Advertisement He joined the Houston Texans this offseason on a one-year deal in free agency, but decided to retire before playing for his seventh career team. He retires with eight career interceptions, 447 tackles, and a Super Bowl win across a decade as a pro. In retrospect, a solid draft pick by Bills general manager Doug Whaley in 2015. Known as a man-to-man corner, maybe Darby would have stuck around in Buffalo had that fit what McDermott was trying to do with his defense. This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Former Bills CB Ronald Darby retires from NFL at age 31
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Texans head coach wishes veteran CB Ronald Darby 'the best' following retirement
Texans head coach wishes veteran CB Ronald Darby 'the best' following retirement Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans remembers when his body told him it was time to hang up the cleats. It's a challenging call, but one that every player eventually must make. Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby made that decision Monday morning, announcing that after 10 seasons, he was calling it a career. Ryans, who played 10 seasons with the Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, understood this was a call that could have been made and wished the former defensive back a prosperous next step in life. "It's a very difficult time to step away from the game that you love, whenever that decision comes," Ryans said. "Whether it's voluntary or it's your body saying you can't do it, it's difficult because you've done it for such a long time. And I don't take that decision lightly.' A 2015 second-round pick out of Florida State, Darby spent a decade playing with multiple teams as a fringe starter and No. 2 cornerback. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills, he also played for the Eagles, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last season in 13 games with Jacksonville, he totaled 46 tackles, three for losses and nine pass deflections. He signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million this offseason and was expected to take over for Jeff Okudah as the veteran No. 3 defensive back. While the Texans like their starting talent in All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. and breakout rookie Kamari Lassiter, their depth will take a toll. Houston drafted the versatile USC defensive back Jaylin Smith in the third round and could shift him around the field as a do-it-all player, including seeing reps at safety. "That was definitely something that appealed to us about him from the draft process standpoint," Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said last week. "He's been doing a good job working and trying to absorb everything we're throwing at him. We will see how that plays out.' As for replacing the "veteran impact" at the position, Ryans said they will try and fill the position with either someone on the market or potentially a player who has been cut between now and Week 1. "Whoever it may be, we'll look to add a guy," Ryans said. Several names on the market in former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, do-it-all defensive back Rasul Douglas, Kendall Fuller, James Bradberry and Caleb Farley.
USA Today
2 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Former Bills CB Ronald Darby retires from the NFL
Former Bills CB Ronald Darby retires from the NFL Former Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby is hanging up the cleats after 10 seasons in the NFL. The 31-year-old product of Florida State retired, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. A second-round pick by the Bills in 2015, Darby was an important piece to the Bills defense in the Rex Ryan era. He started 29 games across 2015 and 2016, intercepting two passes and recording 33 PBUs. Darby finished second in defensive rookie of the year voting following the 2015 season where he thrived in Ryan's man-heavy approach. In his first career NFL game, he intercepted Colts four-time Pro Bowler Andrew Luck: When the Sean McDermott regime took over in Buffalo prior to the 2017 season, they cleaned house, trading Darby to the Eagles for wide receiver Jordan Matthews. They also traded WR Sammy Watkins to the Rams that day. Darby won the Super Bowl as a starting cornerback in his first year in Philadelphia (SB LII) while playing every snap in the big game. Impressively, Darby started 78 more games in his career after leaving the Bills, playing for five more teams over eight seasons. He joined the Houston Texans this offseason on a one-year deal in free agency, but decided to retire before playing for his seventh career team. He retires with eight career interceptions, 447 tackles, and a Super Bowl win across a decade as a pro. In retrospect, a solid draft pick by Bills general manager Doug Whaley in 2015. Known as a man-to-man corner, maybe Darby would have stuck around in Buffalo had that fit what McDermott was trying to do with his defense.
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Super Bowl Champs Ronald Darby, David Andrews Top List of High-Profile NFL Retirements
Super Bowl Champion cornerback Ronald Darby headlines a list of high-profile NFL retirements. The Houston Texans
