Former Broncos CB and Super Bowl Champion Announces Retirement

Veteran cornerback and Super Bowl LII champion Ronald Darby has informed the Houston Texans that he intends to retire from the NFL,  according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. Darby had signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Texans earlier in the offseason.

Darby's professional career spanned 10 years and stints with six different teams – the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders (then, the Washington Football Team), Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Darby spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Broncos, making 16 total appearances during that time span. Although he did not force any turnovers during his time in the Mile High City, he recorded 63 tackles and defended nine passes while playing in the team's secondary.

Over the course of his entire NFL career, Darby played in 118 games, where he made 419 tackles (including 354 solo stops) and defended 106 passes. He also picked off eight passes, returning them for 135 yards.

Darby received one major honor in the professional ranks – he was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team in 2015 – but his crowning achievement was earning a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season. He played an important role the championship game, defending two passes (tied for the most of any player on the team) and making four tackles in the Eagles' eventual 41-33 win over the New England Patriots.

The Bills selected Darby with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after three strong seasons at Florida State. Darby won a BCS national championship with the Seminoles in 2013, while also being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a FWAA Freshman All-American the year before.