It was reported yesterday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Running Back Sony Michel told Rams’ head coach Sean McVay that he intended to retire from the NFL.
Who is Sony Michel
Sony Maurice Michel was born on February 17th, 1995. He attended high school at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. After high school, Michel committed to playing college football at Georgia. He’d play eight games in his freshman year, including starting one. Unfortunately for him, his freshman season was hindered by a fractured shoulder blade. It wasn’t over for him there, though. He’d go on to amass 3,613 rushing yards, including his stand-out performance in the rose bowl.
Drafted to the NFL
In 2018 the New England Patriots drafted Sony Michel with the 31st overall pick. Michel would be the third of six players to be drafted out of Georgia that year in what amounted to an impressive draft for the Bulldogs. At this point, Michel was known for his speed and elusiveness, but many worried about his physical ability at the next level.
Time in New England
Michel would come into training camp and immediately hit a roadblock—a knee injury. Fortunately for Michel and the Patriots, he’d only miss the pre-season and their first game. Upon returning, Michel had an impressive regular season with 931 rushing yards and six touchdowns. This wouldn’t come close to highlighting his 2018 season, though. The running back would put up a 113-yard game against the Cheifs in the AFC title game and score the only touchdown of Super Bowl LIII, leading the Patriots to a 13-3 victory over the LA Rams.
This would be the peak of Michel’s time in the NFL, although not his only Super Bowl victory. He’d go on to play in 2019 and 2020, but the 2020 season was shortened again by injury. In his final season with the Patriots, he’d run for only 449 yards and one touchdown.
Trade and Retirement
In August of 2021, the Patriots traded Michel to the LA Rams in exchange for a fifth and sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He’d play that season for the Rams in a limited role behind starting running back Cam Akers. He’d finish the season with 845 running yards on 208 carries but would only touch the ball twice in the Super Bowl that year against the Bengals, in which Michel would win his second Super Bowl title.
From there, Michel signed with Miami, LA Chargers, and then a second stint with the LA Rams without ever playing another game in the NFL. On July 29th, only a little more than a month after signing his second stint with the Rams, it was announced that he was planning on retiring from the NFL.
