Former Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Trae Waynes has unofficially retired from playing football.
What does that even mean?
Well, he isn’t officially closing the door on playing again someday if the right opportunity presents itself, but as of right now, the 29-year-old cornerback is shifting his focus to life beyond the gridiron.
“I mean it’s open, but I’m not really exploring anything to be honest with you,” Waynes said, during an appearance on the Geary & Stein Sports Show. “Multiple teams have actually called, but in my head, I’m done. I’m not officially doing it, I’d say, just because I don’t do that [expletive]. I’m retired, but it’s not like I announced it or anything.
Things never quite panned out the way the Vikings hoped when they spent the No. 11 overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft on Waynes.
Granted, things went well enough for the team to pick up his fifth-year option, which has been rare in recent years for the Vikings. However, the two sides never agreed on a long-term extension.
Waynes simply played out his contract and signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020. His final year with the team was hampered by a hamstring injury before he was ultimately released in March 2022.
Since that release, all has been quiet on the Waynes front—until now.
“Could I easily keep playing seven more years? Yes. But I’ve got a family,” said Waynes. “I want to be around with my kids more, and with all of the stuff happening with these former players, it kind of makes you nervous. For me, I want to look out for myself and my physical and mental health.”
There’s obviously more to life than just playing football, and Waynes has the right to hang up his cleats for the sake of his health. People are going to judge his career whether he stays or goes.
For Waynes, however, the critics are only part of the journey, but he still has a full life left to live.
