The emotional farewell from a teammate of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce saddens the Chiefs

After six seasons this wide receiver, Richie James, of the Kansas City Chiefs announced his retirement from the NFL

Maintaining the highest level in the NFL is incredibly difficult, and surviving multiple seasons in the league is not for everyone. It takes relentless discipline, mental toughness, and the ability to adapt year after year. However, for Richie James, his story in the NFL was just for six seasons at the top level.

However, during those six years, James achieved some surprisingly strong results, including being part of the team that won Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. He joined theKansas City Chiefs after previous stints with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, having been selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Giants. A tough loss for a Chiefs locker room led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

BREAKING: Middle Tennessee legend Richie James is retiring from the NFL

He played for the Niners, Giants, and Chiefs over the course of five seasons and won a Super Bowl in Kansas City

In his two full seasons at #MTSU, he recorded 2,971 receiving yards, 485 rushing yards and 25… pic.twitter.com/OwpPht7oM5

— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) July 19, 2025

But we haven’t seen much of James recently. In the last season, the wide receiver didn’t play a single snap for the Kansas City Chiefs, staying out of the starting rotation and falling short of expectations. That decline in involvement is part of why he ultimately decided to announce his retirement.

Richie James announced his retirement from the NFL

Richie James’s final game came in the 2024 Super Bowl, where the Chiefs captured the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. But after reaching the pinnacle of the sport, James’s life took a dramatic turn, and he began living what felt like a nightmare.

After missing the entire season, the 29-year-old explained in his retirement statement that a lingering knee injury had forced him to close the curtain on his professional career. It was a tough end to a journey filled with grit and perseverance.

“It took time but I have come to realize I am Retired from the NFL. 7th round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ball player to last that long. Unfortunately my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since 22′.” Posted James sin his X account.

It took time but i have come to realize i am Retired from the NFL. 7th round out of MTSU. I feel like i was just a ball player to last that long. Unfortunately my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since 22’. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of Football.

— Richie James (@Senseispunk) July 19, 2025

From the Field to the Future: What Awaits Richie James?

Richie James is taking things calmly. In May, he even shared photos from his wedding, where he married his longtime girlfriend, Clara. Despite that joyful family moment, questions have emerged following his retirement. His future plans remain unclear, though it has been reported that James earned a total of $5,023,487 over the course of his professional career.

Richie James’s retirement has been one of the major storylines surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs. Teammates like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are expected to miss his presence in the locker room in the seasons ahead. As a pro, James recorded 56 punt returns for 373 yards, 95 kickoff returns, and caught 105 passes during his NFL career, a solid contribution across multiple phases of the game.