In news that flew under our radar during the action-packed first week of free agency, offensive tackle Yosh Nijman announced his retirement on March 11 (via Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com).
“After seven incredible years in the NFL, I’ve decided it’s time to officially step away from the game of football,” Nijman wrote on Instagram.
A free agent when he hung up his cleats, the 30-year-old Nijman divided his career between Green Bay and Carolina. After entering the NFL undrafted in 2019, the Virginia Tech product spent most of his rookie year on the Packers’ practice squad. Nijman did not appear in any games then, but he played in at least 16 in every other season of his career.
While Nijman totaled just 14 offensive snaps over 16 games in 2020, he made eight starts the next year and a career-high 13 in 2022. The Packers kept Nijman around in 2023 after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him, but he went on to start in just one of 17 games that season.
Nijman left the Packers for the Panthers’ two-year, $8MM offer in March 2024. With Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton locked in as the Panthers’ top tackles, Nijman filled a reserve role and made seven starts in 32 games. He suited up for 99 contests in his career and started 29.