A reunion with the Rams will not lead to games played in Los Angeles or anywhere else for Sony Michel. The veteran running back told head coach Sean McVay earlier today that he is retiring from the NFL (Twitter link via team reporter Stu Jackson). 
Michel entered the league with considerable expectations as a first-round pick of the Patriots in 2018. His three-year stay in New England resulted in notable production at times, including over 1,800 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns between his first two regular seasons. His six rushing touchdowns in the postseason helped win the Patriots a Super Bowl during his rookie year.
The Georgia alum was ultimately traded to the Rams in the summer of 2021, though, after he dealt with injuries in the previous season in particular. Michel only started eight of his 21 appearances in Los Angeles, finding himself behind Darrell Henderson and, later, Cam Akers on the depth chart. He still managed 973 scrimmage yards, however, and played a part in helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.
Michel joined the Dolphins last offseason, but he was unable to make their final 53-man roster. He spent the year with back in Los Angeles, but with the Chargers. A backup role behind Austin Ekeler did not produce much in the way of opportunities or production, leaving him on the open market well into the summer. Michel rejoined the Rams, but it was far from a certainty that he would have had earned a place in the team’s RB pecking order.
Despite Akers being named in trade rumors in 2022, he remains in place as the Rams’ top rushing option. Los Angeles added Zach Evans in the sixth round of this year’s draft, but a veteran replacement for Michel can be expected. A number of options are on the market at the moment, as 2023 has seen several accomplished backs fail to draw much interest deep into the summer.
Michel will choose to hang up his cleats at the age of 28 after just five seasons in the NFL. His career earnings sit at $11.5MM, almost all of which came from his rookie contract – a figure helped greatly by his status as a Day 1 selection. Rather than continue what likely would have been a series of backup roles into his 30s, he will elect to close the book on the playing chapter of his football career.
Wow it feels like it was only yesterday when he ran in the only touchdown of Super Bowl LIII.
Five years, two rings, and hopefully his health. Well done Sony, enjoy the next chapter.
When you put it like that, that’s lowkey amazing career and he’s healthy and rich too
Michel was a good back, but never the workhorse type starter in his career, dating back to Georgia. He may have been the rostered starter, but he always worked in a platoon. That’s not meant to be a knock on him at all-he did very well at it-but it means that he likely didn’t (and doesn’t) have the wear that a lot of between the tackles backs do (like his former teammate Todd Gurley).
Michel accomplished some great things in his career, and has earned whatever good fortune comes his way. Hats off to him for being successful and fun to watch.
Belichick drafted him with Lamar and Nick Chubb still on the board. Certainly not a bad player but the Patriots could have got more value with that first round pick.
Which is why BB should not be the GM. Coach, yes, but his role as draft king is what puts the Pats in last place in the division this year.
What’s your point???
The Jets draft Sam Darnold with the #3 pick and Arizona draft Josh Rosen with the #10, both passing up on Lamar and Chubb.
The Jets and Cardinals have made such a tradition of botching high picks that it’s become something of a surprise when they don’t shoot themselves in the foot.
Michel wasn’t a bad pick, so I can’t hold that against Belichick. Getting good production from your picks is always a plus, even if hypothetically better ones ended up being available. There is no telling whether Jackson or Chubb would have excelled to the heights that they did anywhere else (admittedly likely for Chubb, but probably not likely for Jackson).
Harry, however, is a better example for your point. Of course, he didn’t fit New England’s style and Belichick only drafted to attempt to placate Brady, but he still wasted that pick and should have evaluated Harry’s fit better than he did. Dominique Easley is an even better example, since he was a D-lineman, which is right in Belichick’s wheelhouse.
Belichick won’t hit the bullseye every time (no GM can) but he’s been around as long as he has because he knows how to make the necessary adjustments to minimize his mistakes.
Average career of an NFL player is 3 years? He beat that. He made over 10 mil in his career. He won 2 titles and scored a TD in the Super Bowl. Now he’s chosen to do what’s best for his health in the long term. What’s to be gained by trying to hang on for a few more seasons? Gotta weigh the rest of your life against padding your bank account with a couple more million. If he’s been smart with his money, the smart thing is to retire early and enjoy life.
Wonder what the RB Coalition has to say about this…
Zoom meeting! Lmao
I’m seeing a lot of players lately retire in their late 20s.