It turns out former Carolina Panthers All-Pro center Ryan Kalil is not ready to say goodbye to professional football just yet. Despite announcing his retirement from the NFL at the end of the 2018 season, Kalil decided to sign a deal with the New York Jets on Thursday.
According to NFL Network, Kalil inked a one-year contract worth $8.4 million.
Jets entered 2019 with question marks on the center position, and have been looking for ways to upgrade in recent months. After being unable to find suitable candidates in trades and on the free-agent market, the organization reached out to Kalil and managed to convince him to unretire.
Ryan Kalil brings stability to the New York Jets’ offensive line, and his presence will definitely benefit the team’s sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold. The 34-year-old is expected to start practicing with the team on Saturday.
Kalil, who was a second-round pick in 2007 NFL Draft, has a decorated career which includes five Pro Bowl appearances and two First-team All-Pro selections. During his time with the Panthers, he played 148 games, starting 145 of them.
