Xavien Howard‘s return to football was brief one. After eight years in Miami and a year away from the game, Howard’s new venture with the Colts has ended after four games as Indianapolis placed the 32-year-old cornerback on the reserve/retired list today. 
A four-time Pro Bowler and a one-time selection for both the first and second All-Pro teams over his career, Howard gave the Dolphins every bit of what was asked of him as a second-round pick out of Baylor. An immediate starter in Miami’s secondary, Howard struggled with injuries early in his career but showed enough promise in two mostly healthy seasons of his rookie contract to earn a five-year, $76.5MM extension shortly after his third NFL season.
After a rookie year in which a meniscus surgery caused him to miss all but seven games, Howard exploded onto the scene with 11 interceptions and 25 passes defensed over the next two seasons. After being rewarded with the above-mentioned extension, a nagging knee injury limited Howard to five games before ultimately ending his 2019 season. He came back to have the strongest season of his career, starting all 16 games, leading the league in both interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), and earning first-team All-Pro honors.
Over the next three seasons, Howard would continue to provide solid pass defense. His interception numbers dwindled as he only picked off seven passes over that span, but his 40 passes defensed showed that his penchant for breaking up plays still remained. At the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, the first in which Howard failed to earn a Pro Bowl selection since his injury-plagued 2019 season, the Dolphins opted to release Howard with a post-June 1 designation as a way to clear out cap space.
Despite committing to playing and even fielding offers, Howard found no place to call his football home in 2024, missing out on the entire NFL season. He visited the Bengals during the team’s defensive struggles last year but never signed with a team. The Colts landed his signature in the weeks leading up to the 2025 regular season, reuniting Howard with the game of football and with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who had coached him for a couple years in Miami.
Week 1 started off strong for Howard, as his former team failed to manage any offense in their first time facing him on the other side of the field. Week 2 brought a sobering reality, though, as Denver picked on Howard, targeting him eight times and completing eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He showed slight improvement in a Week 3 game against the Titans, but Week 4 brought him crashing back down. The Rams targeted Howard 10 times, completing seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, “there were many questions about his viability” after the rough performances, “but no one saw this coming.” Holder went on to claim that the media was not aware of any plans to release Howard, and after missing practice today with a “personal day” designation, Howard came to the decision to retire on his own.
In a statement (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald), Howard explained, “Throughout my career, I’ve always played football for the love of the sport. I enjoyed everything that came with being a part of the NFL; it was my passion for the game that drove me. I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the chance to play pro football. I cannot thank the Indianapolis Colts enough for letting me continue to live out my dream, but my dream has now changed.”
Howard goes on to explain how much he enjoyed spending time with his kids and family during his year away from the NFL before officially declaring his intention to retire from football. He concluded, “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football. I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because, for once, I’m putting my family first, and I’m proud and excited about that decision.”
