Veteran offensive lineman Austin Blythe announced his retirement from the NFL on social media on Tuesday. The 30-year-old player spent seven seasons in the league.
“The last 7 years have been nothing short of amazing,” Blythe wrote on Instagram. “For a short, unathletic, undersized kid from Iowa, I’ve played a lot of football, met countless coaches and teammates that I can call friends, and made enough memories for myself and my family to last a lifetime. I am so grateful, and extremely blessed, to have played the game for any amount of time, let alone 7 years.”
Blythe spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks under a one-year $4 million contract. He started every game for the Seahawks, finishing 13th in ESPN’s pass block win rate among centers. During his tenure with the Seahawks, Blythe received praise from teammates and coaches for his ability to coordinate the offensive line, with position coach Andy Dickerson lauding him as an “elite communicator”.
Drafted out of Iowa in 2016 by the Indianapolis Colts, Blythe spent his rookie year in Indiana before moving to the Los Angeles Rams, where he played for four seasons. He then moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 before wrapping up his career in Seattle.
