Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley retires from the NFL for a surprising reason | NFL News
Wide receiver Chris Conley is stepping away from the NFL after a decade-long career to pursue his true passion, which is filmmaking. According to his agent, Jonathan Perzley, Conley will begin this new chapter by enrolling in film school at the University of Georgia, which is also his alma mater.
Why did Chris Conley retire from the NFL?
Conley shared the news of his retirement on Instagram Saturday morning. “When I was a kid I wrote down a set of goals. On that list was ‘Play 10 years in the NFL.’ Now that this goal has been accomplished, it’s time to set sights on something new,” he wrote.Throughout his 10-year NFL career, Conley played in 132 games and made 65 starts across five teams. He recorded 226 receptions, 2,998 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. Conley also contributed on special teams besides his stint as a wide receiver. His standout season came in 2019 with Jacksonville, where he posted career highs with 47 receptions for 775 yards and five touchdowns.Over the last two seasons with the 49ers, Conley primarily served as a backup behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings. “The past 10 years have been a dream,” Conley wrote. “Getting the opportunity to play in the league was an honor and whether it was catching touchdowns or blocking for them, I truly gave it my all.”“I cant mention everyone who was instrumental in my growth as a man and player but if you played a part, I extend a heartfelt thank you. To my teammates, training staff, and coaches thanks for the friendship and trust throughout the years.God makes no mistakes and I’m thankful he proved this to me throughout my career. He is more than enough,” he added.He signed off his announcement with, “See you in the next dream.”The Pro-Bowler has been a solid, reliable player throughout his NFL career. He was drafted in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015. It is not yet known exactly which direction he may pursue in filmmaking or what influenced him to retire.
