Luke Willson worked out for the Seahawks on Monday and signed to rejoin the team Tuesday. The Seahawks released him a day later, and the veteran tight end has subsequently announced his retirement.
Willson will wrap his career after eight seasons. He revealed Wednesday, via Twitter, he dealt with a heart issue this offseason — a severe pericardial effusion, which is a fluid buildup around the heart — that required a lengthy hospital stay. After one day back with the Seahawks, the 31-year-old veteran reversed course and called it quits. The Seahawks released Willson after he informed the team of his retirement plans Tuesday night, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
A fifth-round Seahawks pick in 2013, Willson played in 96 games (counting playoffs) for the team. While not known as a pure receiving tight end, Willson caught 11 TD passes during his first Seattle stint. The Rice alum added a playoff touchdown as well, scoring from 25 yards out in the Seahawks’ divisional-round win over the Panthers in 2014. Willson totaled four catches for 68 yards in that 31-17 Seattle win. A week later, Willson’s two-point conversion grab helped the Seahawks erase a 16-point second-half deficit against the Packers en route to Super Bowl XLIX.
The Seahawks are currently down Colby Parkinson, who suffered a foot fracture for the second straight year, but have Gerald Everett and holdover Will Dissly at the position. Willson was to provide depth, a role he played in 2019 and at the end of last season.
Willson caught on with the Lions in 2018 and joined the Raiders in 2019, receiving some Hard Knocks screen time. After the Raiders released him, he wound up back with the Seahawks. After a Ravens deal in 2020 also led to a release, he ended up playing his final games as a member of the Seahawks last season.
Solid career. Enjoy retirement Luke, you’ve earned it!
Not related to this article, but why does Zachary Links keep closing comments on the minor transactions articles? I’ve seen it more than once now and I don’t get it….
beats playing for the seahawks
It’s common knowledge that Seattle is easily a Top 5 destination for free agents and one of the best managed franchises in all of professional sports.
Enjoy your retirement! You will always be a fan favorite in Seattle.
I imagine Luke also attracted several Canadians to the Seahawk fan base.
Pete Carroll loves Luke’s locker room presence and leadership. Luke loves the Seahawks but can’t play due to health issues and he made the right decision in retiring. He’s a fan favorite. Why not hire him on to the coaching staff? Seems like a win-win to me.
Pete loved him so much he signed and then cut him within hours.
Cut him after Willson informed the team that he would be retiring. Reading doesn’t have to be hard, take your time and sound out the words.
“After one day back with the Seahawks, the 31-year-old veteran reversed course and called it quits. The Seahawks released Willson after he informed the team of his retirement plans Tuesday night, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.”
Thanks teach, but reading the paragraph prior to that one has the team cutting him and then him retiring. Understanding the placement and relevance of big words like “subsequently” must be hard, so I’d suggest you flag down an adult and get them to explain it to you.
“Luke Willson worked out for the Seahawks on Monday and signed to rejoin the team Tuesday. The Seahawks released him a day later, and the veteran tight end has subsequently announced his retirement”