Former Southern Miss football player retires from NFL playing career

Posted by author July 17, 2024 Football

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A former Southern Miss football player and Las Vegas Raider has announced his retirement from football.

Jalen Richard made the announcement on Wednesday via his Instagram account.

“Some doors close on themselves and we become locked out while God holds the key,” a portion of his statement said. “Only for him to hand a new key to us to open a new door. I can’t put into words what playing the game was for me.”

Richard played for the Golden Eagles from 2012 to 2015, enjoying his best season as a senior in 2015, rushing for 1,098 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those touchdowns are the fourth-most in USM history in a single season by a Southern Miss running back.

For his Southern Miss career, the running back rushed for a total of 2,086 yards and 675 receiving yards, along with 24 total touchdowns.

The running back was a long-time Raider, spending every season with the NFL team from 2016 to 2021. He tallied 1,333 rushing yards, 1,590 receiving yards, 1,632 return yards, seven total touchdowns, and appeared in two playoff games in his six-year NFL career.

According to his post, he will be looking for coaching opportunities in football upon retirement from playing the sport.

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