Seahawks TE Greg Olsen announces retirement

As expected, Seattle Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen has called it a career.

On the NFL on FOX pre-game show, Olsen announced his retirement and confirmed that he’ll be a part of the network’s broadcast team as an analyst in 2021. He already had that part of his life planned out a couple of years ago when he appeared in the broadcast booth during the Carolina Panthers’ bye weeks. Before the COVID-19 shutdown, Olsen was one of the lead analysts for FOX on the XFL.

Olsen signed a one-year, $7 million deal last offseason for one last opportunity at a Super Bowl, but he only caught 24 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in 11 games played. He was expected to be a significant part of Seattle’s offense but it clearly didn’t pan out that way. For someone who only missed two games through the first ten years of his career with the Chicago Bears and then Carolina Panthers, his body broke down steadily and he didn’t go the full 16 in any of his final four years. A plantar fascia injury is what felled him late in the 2020 season, but he managed to recover and played sporadically in the final two meetings with the Los Angeles Rams.

It’s been a hell of a career for the 35-year-old. Olsen recorded 742 receptions (for 8,683 yards) in the regular season and another 41 in the playoffs, including touchdowns in playoff wins over the Seahawks in 2010 and 2015. He made three straight Pro Bowls from 2014-2016 and was selected to the All-Pro Second-Team in 2015 and 2016. Olsen may not be as acclaimed or accomplished as the likes of Gronk or Travis Kelce, but he was a damn good player at the peak of his playing days.

Here’s to Olsen enjoying retirement and being an enjoyable listen on FOX broadcasts.