26-Year-Old NFL Safety Retires From Pro Football to Pursue This Career

Indianapolis Colts safety Khari Willis had missed the organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamps this offseason. The team had allowed Willis to miss the practice sessions so that he can focus on his personal matters. Well, it comes as a shocking surprise that a 26-year-old is retiring from the NFL.

Khari Willis had played only three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and now through an Instagram post, he has confirmed his retirement. Willis wrote, “With much prayer and deliberation, I have elected to officially retire from the NFL as I endeavor to devote the remainder of my life to the further advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Willis will now be working for the ministry for the rest of his life. He thanked Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him in 2019. In the post, he mentioned he found lifelong friends and the lessons he learned will always be valuable to him. Willis is humbled and excited as he moves on to the next phase of life, and he thanks his fans for their support all these years.

The Colts drafted Willis in the fourth round of the NFL draft. He would have entered his fourth and final rookie season contract with the Colts. After this, the safety would have been a free agent, thus an opportunity to upscale his NFL contract.

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In the last 3-years, Willis has earned around $3 million. If he would have played this season, he would have earned another $2.54 million in base salary.

The Colts head coach Frank Reich also had a heart-warming message for safety Khari Willis

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich too had a message for Khari Willis. After Willis’ decision to retire from the game came up, HC Reich said, “Khari’s character, leadership, and professionalism will be missed in our locker room as will his play on Sundays. I admire and respect his decision to transition into the next stage of his life and ministry and my prayers will always be with him.”

The Colts when signed a deal with Willis in 2019, were sure he will be the teams starting safety soon. The Colts even traded 20 spots to acquire him. Willis in the middle of his rookie season became the starting safety for the team. 

In his three-year career, Willis played 39 games, out of which he started in 33 games. He has to his name 219 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 3.5 sacks.

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