Kadarius Toney Denies Viral Rumor He's Retiring from NFL amid Music Career

Despite his venture into the music world, Kadarius Toney isn't giving up on his NFL career.

Amid online rumors that he was retiring from football to pursue music, Toney posted a message to his Instagram Stories clarifying he is not walking away from his first career.

"Goofies on the net hollerin I’m retiring," Toney wrote on his Instagram story (h/t Christian Arnold of the New York Post). "Just want klout. Ain’t speakin on the [poop emoji] nomo. Love da attention for my musik tho. It’s been a passion."

Various online social media accounts wrote Toney said he was hanging up his cleats and wanted to be considered a rapper instead of a football player going forward.

Toney, whose rap name is Yung Joka, has released three full albums since 2020. He has also released a mixtape and four EPs dating back to 2019.

A first-round pick in the 2021 draft by the New York Giants, Toney's NFL career has been a huge disappointment so far. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through his second season.

The best game of Toney's career was in Super Bowl 57 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had 82 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown in Kansas City's 38-35 win.

Kansas City released Toney prior to the start of the 2024 regular season. He signed with the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in September and appeared in three games before being released on Dec. 10.

Toney, who was arrested in February on charges of aggravated assault and obstructing or hindering an emergency call, remains a free agent. He has appeared in 35 out of a possible 68 regular-season games since entering the NFL.