This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Former Buffalo Bills linebacker A.J. Klein announced his retirement on Tuesday, his 33rd birthday.
Klein played 11 NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2013-16), New Orleans Saints (2017-19), Chicago Bears (2022), Baltimore Ravens (2022) and Bills (2020-21, 2022-23), with whom his contract expired in January.
He started 82 of 146 games and totaled 465 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 45 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits and four interceptions — one returned for a touchdown.
The Panthers selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Iowa State.
“Today is the first birthday I’ve celebrated not at a training camp in 15 years and it only seemed fitting to celebrate two milestones on this day,” Klein, a native of Appleton, Wis., posted on his Instagram account. “Today, I’m proud to announce that I’m officially retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons.”
–Field Level Media
