Tavon Austin Retires from NFL; Former 1st-Round Pick Played for Rams, Cowboys, More

Former West Virginia star and NFL wide receiver Tavon Austin announced his retirement from football in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

"No matter how hard you work or how badly you want something, sometimes God has other plans," he wrote. "I wasn't sure if I was ready to give up football, and it has been one of the most challenging decisions I've ever made. But after an incredible ten years, I'm officially retiring from the NFL."

Austin, 33, was dynamic in college, registering at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in both his junior and senior seasons. His final college campaign in 2012 for the Mountaineers was particularly epic, as he caught 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 scores, alongside 643 rushing yards and another three touchdowns. He also had two return touchdowns that season.

That more than caught the eye of NFL evaluators, and Austin was selected by the then-St. Louis Rams with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

His NFL career never came close to the heights of his college career, however. His best season came in 2015 with the Rams, when he caught 52 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns, adding 434 yards and four scores on the ground. His 907 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns (he also had a kick return score) were each career highs, showing off his unique versatility.

He remained with the Rams through the 2017 season before disappointing and injury-plagued stops with the Dallas Cowboys (2018-19), San Francisco 49ers (2020), Green Bay Packers (2020), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021) and Buffalo Bills (2022).

"Football gave me more than a career," Austin wrote in his retirement post. "It gave me some lifelong friendships and molded so much of my character. It taught me how vital choices are and how decision-making affects you. Football created in me a mindset of relentless pursuit and hard work ethic! Football didn't always love me back, but it will always be my first love! I will forever cherish the time I spent in the NFL. It has indeed been a privilege."