Anterio Thompson was running full speed down the sideline when he reached the kick returner during a critical game at Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa. Playing as a special-teams gunner, the 6-foot-3 defensive lineman stuck out an arm, sending the returner to the ground. The referee threw a flag for an overly violent hit. Anger had found him at 17, and so did football.

That force put him on the radar of college recruiters, although Thompson still had plenty of ground to cover. He needed a second chance at Iowa Western Community College, where he redshirted in 2021 before becoming a second-team All-American and winning a national championship in 2022. He went on to play at Iowa, Western Michigan, and Washington, earning the nickname “JUCO Terio” before his final college season. Yet, no NFL Combine Invitation came, and even without one, he ran a 4.73-second 40-yard dash at Washington’s pro day.

When Atlanta finally called with the 208th pick in April’s draft, Thompson’s voice cracked. “Are you for real?” he asked general manager Ian Cunningham. It took a full minute and two familiar voices before he believed it. Good news had never come easy. But that excitement was short-lived.

On May 8, just 13 days after the Falcons selected him, Thompson says doctors told him he would never play football again after discovering a genetic mutation in his spinal cord. The 24-year-old revealed the diagnosis in an Instagram post on his birthday, October 29, leaving his NFL future in doubt. He shared:

“Blessed to make it to 24,” defensive tackle Anterio Thompson said on his Instagram story. “Mentally, I’ve been better than anyone would be in my situation. As a football player you know one day you’ll have to hang up your cleats but you just hope it’s on your own terms. May 8th, 2026, I was told I would never play football again due to a genetic mutation in my spinal cord that I had no idea about. It’s hard to explain what it feels like to go through the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in the matter of seconds. I believe everything happens for a reason and this was nothing but God protecting and giving me a reason to be closer to Him…”

What Anterio Thompson’s spinal condition could mean for his NFL career

Thompson has not disclosed the exact genetic mutation doctors discovered or the medical condition associated with it. There is no information about which part of his spinal cord is affected, whether he has experienced any symptoms, or what tests led to the diagnosis. However, his announcement raises an important question: how can a condition he did not even know he had bring his football career to an end?

The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body, controlling movement and transmitting sensations. It is protected by the vertebrae, but damage to the cord can disrupt those signals, potentially affecting muscle control, sensation and, in severe cases, the ability to walk or move independently. That makes the demands of Thompson’s position particularly concerning.

As a defensive tackle, he would regularly engage in forceful collisions with offensive linemen, absorb contact around his upper body and be pushed or driven to the ground. If an underlying condition makes his spinal cord vulnerable, another impact could potentially cause damage far more serious than an ordinary football injury.

Importantly, a player does not have to be experiencing physical difficulties for doctors to rule out a return. Even if Thompson can move and perform everyday activities normally, the possibility that another collision could cause permanent neurological damage may be enough to make professional football unsafe. That could explain why doctors advised him to stop playing, although the specific risks they identified have not been made public. The genetic aspect adds another layer to the diagnosis.

A genetic mutation is a change in DNA that can affect how certain parts of the body develop or function. Depending on the gene involved, it could contribute to an abnormality affecting the spinal cord, the structures protecting it or the blood vessels supplying it. Such a condition may go unnoticed for years, particularly if it does not cause obvious symptoms. Some genetic changes are inherited, while others arise for the first time in an individual.

However, Thompson has not identified the mutation or said whether it was inherited. It would therefore be inaccurate to assume he has a particular spinal condition or that his diagnosis means he is already experiencing neurological damage. What is clear from his statement is that doctors believe returning to football is no longer an option.

Falcons yet to provide an update on Thompson’s future

Thompson has been on the reserve/non-football injury list since training camp and has not been with the team since the spring, according to ESPN. Although he was technically eligible to return from the list during the 2026 season, his announcement makes a comeback appear unlikely.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about Thompson on Friday, before the Instagram post circulated publicly, but said he had no update on the rookie’s situation. Thompson has not announced a formal medical retirement, and the team has not publicly disclosed further details about his condition.

If Thompson cannot return, Atlanta has other defensive linemen available. LaCale London, Brandon Dorlus and Zach Harrison are among the players who could help fill the gap on the defensive line.

Zachary Orr’s NFL career also ended after a spinal condition was discovered

Thompson is not the first NFL player to have his career cut short by a spinal condition he did not know about. Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr also had to walk away from football at 24 after doctors discovered a congenital abnormality in his spine.

Orr announced his retirement in January 2017 after three NFL seasons. Doctors found that one of the vertebrae in his upper spine had not fully developed, leaving openings in the bone. Continuing to play put him at risk of a potentially catastrophic injury, including severe neurological damage or even death.

The discovery was particularly striking because Orr had played football for 15 years, starting at age nine, without knowing about the condition.

Although Orr’s condition was different from the genetic mutation, both cases show how a medical discovery involving the spine can force an NFL player to reconsider a career built around physical contact.