Corey Davis Announces NFL Retirement After 6-Year Career with Titans, Jets

Veteran wide receiver Corey Davis announced his retirement from the NFL in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Davis, 28, played for the Tennessee Titans from 2017 to 2020 before spending the last two years with the New York Jets. He was due a $10.5 million base salary in 2023, but none of that money was guaranteed. It's possible Davis was facing being released ahead of 53-man roster cuts.

"It was a pleasure to coach a player like Corey Davis," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said in a statement. "He is a true competitor on the field and was a tremendously positive influence in the locker room. We are grateful to Corey for all the hard work and dedication he put into this team, and we wish him all the best in the future."

Davis recorded 273 receptions for 3,879 yards and 17 touchdowns in his six NFL seasons. His best campaign came during the 2020 season when he recorded 65 receptions for 984 yards and five scores, leading the Jets to sign him to a three-year, $37.5 million contract.

The first two years of Davis' tenure in New York were largely a disappointment, as he battled injuries and suffered through dismal quarterback play when he was on the field. He played in only 22 of 34 potential games and barely had more receptions in two years with the Jets (66) than his final year in Tennessee (66).

Garrett Wilson's arrival last year and the offseason signings of Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb this season had Davis fighting for playing time in training camp. With Lazard and Cobb being favorites of Aaron Rodgers and Hardman emerging as a slot speedster, Davis seemed likelier than not to be the odd man out.

Rather than looking to find a new home or sitting at the end of the New York bench, Davis chose to hang up his cleats.