Veteran receiver Chris Hogan retires after successful 10 year NFL career

Updated: Oct 24, 2021 12:31 pm

After a brief return to the NFL, this season with the New Orleans Saints, receiver Chris Hogan has decided to retire from football.

The 10-year veteran, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots earlier in his career, was officially placed on the reserve/retired list Saturday.

Hogan had already flirted with retirement earlier this year when he actually switched careers and joined the Premier Lacrosse League. But the Saints lured him back in late July, and he earned a roster spot with the team — catching four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in five games.

It’s unclear exactly why Hogan decided to retire. He was not dealing with any known injuries. But the Saints have added depth to their receiving corps in recent weeks. They signed veteran Kenny Stills last month and designated veteran Tre’Quan Smith to return from injured reserve this week. All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas could also return soon, though he has not yet begun practising after having ankle surgery in June.

Hogan (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) began his career as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 and bounced around from San Francisco to the New York Giants to the Buffalo Bills before finally making his NFL debut in December 2012 and catching his first pass in 2013. He then played for the Bills until 2015 and turned a 450-yard 2015 campaign into a three-year contract with the rival Patriots.

Upon arrival in New England, Hogan quickly became a steady target for Tom Brady, logging a career-high 680 yards in 14 starts during the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning 2016 season.

Hogan played three total seasons in New England, winning another Super Bowl in 2018 when he helped the club beat the Chiefs with four catches in the AFC Championship.

He then spent 2019 with the Panthers, appearing in just five games before undergoing knee surgery, and 2020 with the Jets, playing five games while battling an ankle injury.

Hogan has never been a star player for any team he has been on. But he finished his NFL career with a respectable his NFL career with a combined 220 catches for 2,836 yards and 19 touchdowns, plus another 34 catches for 542 yards and four TDs in the playoffs.

It is unknown what Hogan will do now he has retired. There are rumours he may return to professional Lacrosse which as previously mentioned he played prior to signing for the Saints this past offseason.