This guide answers the question "how old was todd gurley when he retired" in plain terms. Todd Gurley's retirement age is a topic that surprises many NFL fans who remember his explosive prime.
The former Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons running back officially stepped away from professional football at just 28 years old — an age when most elite backs are still chasing Pro Bowl selections. This stands in stark contrast to the average NFL running back retirement age, which typically falls between 30 and 32.
Gurley's rapid decline from Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 to out of the league by 2022 remains one of the most discussed cautionary tales in modern football. If you're wondering what happened, how arthritis derailed his career, or what he's doing now, this guide breaks down the key facts you need to know.
Todd Gurley's Official Retirement Timeline
Todd Gurley never held a formal retirement press conference. He simply stopped receiving contract offers after the 2021 season. His last NFL snap came on December 26, 2021, as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. By early 2022, he was effectively retired — though no official announcement came until later.
NFL transaction records show Gurley was not signed by any team for the 2022 season. He remained a free agent throughout training camp and the regular season. In August 2022, Gurley appeared on The Pivot Podcast and stated he was "done with football." That interview serves as the closest thing to an official retirement statement.
How old was Todd Gurley when he retired? He was 28 years old, having been born on August 3, 1994. His last game came roughly four months before his 28th birthday. This makes him one of the youngest All-Pro running backs to exit the league in recent memory.
Many fans continue to ask how old was Todd Gurley when he retired because the number seems remarkably low for a player of his caliber. The answer remains consistent across all reliable sources: just 28.
How to apply this: Check Pro Football Reference's transaction log for any player to verify their exact retirement timeline and last game date.
Why Gurley's Career Ended So Early
The primary culprit behind Gurley's early exit was arthritis in his left knee. This condition traces back to a torn ACL he suffered in November 2014 during his junior year at the University of Georgia. The injury required reconstructive surgery, and by 2018, doctors discovered arthritic deterioration in the same knee.
Gurley's workload also accelerated the decline. From 2017 to 2018, he touched the ball 656 times across regular season and playoffs. The Rams leaned on him heavily during their Super Bowl LIII run.
According to ESPN's 2019 reporting, the Rams' medical staff flagged Gurley's knee condition during the 2018 playoffs and significantly reduced his carries in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl.
By 2019, Gurley's yards per carry dropped from 4.9 to 3.8. The Rams released him in March 2020, absorbing a $20.15 million dead cap hit — one of the largest for a running back in NFL history at that time. His one season with Atlanta in 2021 produced just 678 rushing yards and a career-low 3.5 yards per attempt.
When people learn how old was Todd Gurley when he retired, they often ask whether the arthritis was preventable or simply a matter of genetics.
How to apply this: When evaluating a running back's longevity, look at their college injury history and early-career touch volume — both are strong predictors of decline.
Gurley's Peak: The 2017-2018 Dominance
Before the decline, Gurley was arguably the most complete offensive weapon in football. In 2017, he led the NFL with 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns. He won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award unanimously.
The 2018 season was nearly as impressive. Gurley scored 21 total touchdowns and helped the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII. His 17 rushing touchdowns that year led the league. Through his first four seasons, Gurley averaged 17.5 touches per game and scored 56 total touchdowns.
This production made his rapid fall even more jarring. Fantasy football managers who drafted Gurley first overall in 2019 watched his value crater within two seasons. The contrast between his 2018 peak and 2021 final season represents one of the steepest declines for a running back in the modern era.
Considering how old was Todd Gurley when he retired, his peak-to-exit timeline spans just four seasons — an astonishingly short window for a player who once dominated the league.
How to apply this: Use Pro Football Reference to compare any running back's yards per touch across seasons — sharp drops often signal underlying health issues.
What Gurley Is Doing Now
Since leaving football, Gurley has pursued several business and media ventures. He launched a minority ownership stake in the FCF Beasts, a team in the Fan Controlled Football league, in 2022. He also co-hosts a podcast and makes occasional appearances on sports talk shows.
Gurley has been candid about his financial approach after football. In a 2023 interview with The Athletic, he discussed investing in real estate and avoiding the bankruptcy issues that plague many former players. His estimated career earnings of approximately $49 million give him a solid foundation.
He has not pursued coaching or broadcasting full-time. Instead, Gurley appears focused on entrepreneurial projects and maintaining a low public profile compared to his playing days. Those who wonder how old was Todd Gurley when he retired might also be curious about how he has adjusted to life after football — and by all accounts, the transition has been smooth.
How to apply this: Follow verified athlete accounts on platforms like LinkedIn to track post-retirement business ventures — many athletes announce partnerships there first.
Comparing Gurley's Retirement Age to Other Running Backs
How old was Todd Gurley when he retired compared to his peers? The gap is striking. Here's a look at notable running backs and their retirement ages:
| Running Back | Retirement Age | Final Season | Primary Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | 28 | 2021 | Knee arthritis |
| Marshawn Lynch | 33 | 2019 | Age/injuries |
| Le'Veon Bell | 29 | 2021 | Performance decline |
| David Johnson | 30 | 2022 | Injuries |
| Ezekiel Elliott | Still active (29) | N/A | N/A |
| Derrick Henry | Still active (30) | N/A | N/A |
Gurley retired younger than all of these contemporaries except Le'Veon Bell, who also exited at 29. The average retirement age for Pro Bowl running backs since 2000 is approximately 31, according to NFL Players Association data. Gurley came in three years below that mark.
When analysts discuss how old was Todd Gurley when he retired, they often point to this three-year gap as evidence of how abruptly his career ended.
How to apply this: When analyzing running back longevity, factor in the player's injury history and touch volume — not just age — to predict their remaining productive years.
The Financial Impact of Early Retirement
Gurley's early exit cost him significantly in potential earnings. He signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Rams in July 2018, including $45 million guaranteed. However, the Rams released him after just two seasons of that deal.
Had Gurley remained healthy through age 31, he likely would have commanded another multi-year contract worth $8-12 million annually, based on comparable deals signed by backs like Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon in the 2021-2023 free agency cycles. That's roughly $24-36 million in lost earning potential.
Gurley's case influenced how teams approach running back contracts. The Rams' dead cap hit from his release became a reference point in negotiations. Subsequent backs like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs struggled to secure long-term deals, with teams citing the Gurley precedent.
Understanding how old was Todd Gurley when he retired helps explain why front offices became so hesitant to invest heavily in the running back position after his decline.
How to apply this: Track dead cap figures on Spotrac to understand how teams manage risk with injury-prone players — it explains many roster decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About how old was todd gurley when he retired
What was Todd Gurley's exact age when he played his last NFL game?
Todd Gurley was 27 years old when he played his final NFL snap on December 26, 2021. He turned 28 on August 3, 2022, several months after his last game and after he had already indicated he was done with football. So while he was 28 when he officially announced retirement, his on-field career ended at 27.
This distinction matters because some sources list his retirement age as 27 while others say 28. The most commonly cited answer to how old was Todd Gurley when he retired is 28, as that was his age when he made his retirement public.
Did Todd Gurley file formal retirement papers with the NFL?
No, Gurley never filed formal retirement papers. He simply remained unsigned through the 2022 season and publicly stated he was finished playing. Players who don't file retirement paperwork remain technically eligible to return, which is why Gurley occasionally appears in free agent rumor discussions. However, his knee condition makes any comeback extremely unlikely.
This informal approach to retirement is one reason some fans still ask how old was Todd Gurley when he retired — without a formal filing, the timeline can seem ambiguous.
Could Todd Gurley have played longer with better medical treatment?
This is speculative, but the arthritis in Gurley's left knee was degenerative — meaning it worsens over time regardless of treatment. Some sports medicine experts have suggested that reducing his workload after the 2018 season might have extended his career by one or two years. However, no amount of rest reverses arthritic joint damage.
The Rams' decision to limit his carries in Super Bowl LIII reflected their awareness of this reality. Given the degenerative nature of his condition, the answer to how old was Todd Gurley when he retired likely would not have changed even with different medical management.
How does Gurley's retirement age compare to Hall of Fame running backs?
Most Hall of Fame running backs retire between ages 30 and 34. Emmitt Smith played until 35, Barry Sanders retired at 30, and LaDainian Tomlinson played until 32. Gurley's exit at 28 makes him younger than nearly every Hall of Fame back of the modern era.
This is why his career — despite an incredible peak — is unlikely to earn Canton consideration. When voters evaluate his candidacy, the question of how old was Todd Gurley when he retired will inevitably factor into discussions about his longevity and overall career value.
What was Todd Gurley's last contract before retiring?
Gurley's final contract was a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons signed in April 2020. It included $2 million guaranteed. The Falcons released him after the 2021 season, and no team offered him another contract.
His previous deal with the Rams was worth $60 million over four years, but he only collected about $34 million of it before being cut. For those researching how old was Todd Gurley when he retired, his contract history shows he was just 28 when his earning power in the NFL came to an end.
Key Takeaways
- Todd Gurley retired at 28 years old after his final season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021
- Degenerative arthritis in his left knee, stemming from a 2014 ACL tear, forced his early exit
- His peak from 2017-2018 produced an Offensive Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl appearance
- Gurley's case changed how NFL teams value and pay running backs
- He has transitioned to business ventures and podcasting rather than coaching or broadcasting
If you want to understand how old was Todd Gurley when he retired and what it means for the running back position, his story offers a clear lesson: peak production doesn't guarantee longevity. Check his player page on Pro Football Reference to explore his game-by-game decline for yourself.
