In a shocker out of Chicago, former first-round pick Marcus Davenport has abruptly decided to retire after playing just 12 snaps for the Bears on Sunday. This isn’t your typical end-of-season farewell; this guy literally logged a handful of plays and then called it quits, a move that left everyone scratching their heads.
The Bears’ Shortest Stint and a Career Plagued by Missed Games
Davenport, who is 30 years old, saw his first game action of the season against the Jets, making one tackle in his brief time on the field. After the Bears secured a 23-12 victory over the Jets, Davenport reportedly asked to be released, signaling the end of his nine-season NFL journey. He had signed with Chicago in mid-August, looking to get his career back on track. Initially, he was cut on August 30 but landed on the practice squad. The veteran pass-rusher didn’t hit the field for the first three weeks of the season, only to be activated and then quickly retire after Week 4.
This abrupt exit caps a career that, despite showing flashes of talent, was largely defined by injuries. He kicked things off in 2018 when the Saints drafted him 14th overall. Over five seasons in New Orleans, Davenport struggled to live up to that first-round hype, though he did post six sacks in 2019 while starting 13 games, and matched that career high again in 2021. The brutal reality, though, is he missed 18 games due to injury during his time with the Saints. After leaving New Orleans, the injury luck never changed. In 2023 with the Vikings, he sprained his ankle and missed 13 games. Then, in 2024 and 2025 with Detroit, he was sidelined for 24 games because of multiple injuries, including a torn triceps. The hope was a reunion with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who he spent five seasons with in New Orleans, would revive his career in Chicago, but that clearly didn’t pan out.
The Hefty Price Tag for a Short-Lived Dream
The Saints’ decision to draft Davenport in 2018 ultimately stung, big time. To move up from 27th overall to 14th and grab the former University of Texas at San Antonio standout, New Orleans made a hefty trade with the Packers. They gave up their 2018 first-round pick (No. 27), a 2018 fifth-rounder (No. 147), and their 2019 first-round pick. That’s a massive investment for a player who, through no fault of his own with the injuries, never consistently delivered on the first-round promise.
So, a career that started with such high expectations, and cost a fortune in draft capital, ends after just 12 snaps in a Week 4 game. It’s a wild, unexpected turn for Marcus Davenport, and just like that, the helmet is hung up for good.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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