Beloved Detroit Lions veteran announces retirement from the NFL

In a post on social media, beloved Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper has announced his retirement from the NFL.

Skipper made the announcement in a post on Instagram in which he thanked everyone who had a hand in or was part of his NFL journey.

He even threw in a reference to "The Dan Skipper Game" from 2023 when he was flagged for failing to report as eligible, which lost the game for the Lions.

Check out Skipper's full retirement announcement below:

"24 years of putting on pads and a helmet every fall. This year I’ll trade that out to pursue a career on the other side in coaching," Skipper stated. "The memories and experiences that the NFL has brought me and my family are hard to put into words. Thankful for every person that has been apart of my journey. It’s time for me to 'report' as retired.(Sorry I had to do it one last time!)."

Skipper's retirement doesn't come as much of a surprise, as he hinted he could go this route following the disappointing end to the Lions' 2025 season.

"This might be the last one," Skipper told reporters following a season in which he dealt with a back issue that almost ended his final campaign early.

A former undrafted free agent, Skipper defied all the odds to ultimately put together an eight-year career, the vast majority of which was spent in Detroit.

In that time, not only did he serve as a reliable swing tackle, he also became a fan-favorite, especially in the wake of the aforementioned 2023 controversy and his pair of receptions, one of which went for a touchdown.

Hats off to Skipper for a solid career and we wish him nothing but the best.

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