Shaun Bradley Nfl Retirement: Shaun Bradley Retires From the NFL at 28 After Six Years as an Eagles Special Teams Staple
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Shaun Bradley is done playing football. The former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker made his retirement official Friday night with a heartfelt letter posted to social media, closing the book on a six-year NFL career that few people outside of Temple, Pennsylvania saw coming.
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“Dear Football, I don’t even know where to start,” Bradley wrote. “Thank you for giving me everything I could ever imagine and more.”
A journey that defied the odds
Bradley’s path to the NFL was never straightforward. He played just one year of high school football, received a single college offer, and worked his way into a three-year starter at Temple before the Eagles selected him in the sixth round, 196th overall, in the 2020 draft. He was 28 years old when he walked away.
Over three seasons in Philadelphia from 2020 through 2022, Bradley appeared in 45 games and recorded 45 total tackles, carving out a role almost entirely on special teams. He was the kind of player who rarely shows up in highlight reels but whose absence gets noticed on a punt coverage unit.
What came after Philadelphia
Bradley’s last regular season appearance came in 2022. He spent part of the 2025 offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs before they released him on May 1, ending his final attempt at catching on with another roster.
Medical realities and the grind of recurring injuries played a significant role in his decision to step away, according to those close to his situation. He was 28, but his body had absorbed the kind of wear that special teams football demands more than almost any other position on the field.
The response from around the league
The retirement announcement drew an immediate wave of respect from former teammates and peers. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun was among those who responded publicly, and tributes continued to pour in from across the NFL community throughout the weekend.
Bradley closed his letter with the kind of line that made clear where his heart still sits: “I got your back forever. And it’s always GO Birds.”
What he leaves behind
Six years in the NFL as a sixth-round pick with one college offer is not a minor achievement. Bradley earned everything he got, and he said as much himself: “No one gave me anything. I earned and took everything. And you changed my life, and my family’s life forever.”
At 28, with the football chapter officially closed, Bradley made clear he is looking forward to whatever comes next.
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