Ronald Darby Retires After Signing Texans Contract, Won Super Bowl 52 with Eagles

Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby is reportedly calling it a career.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Darby told the Houston Texans—who signed him to a one-year deal in March—he is retiring from the NFL after 10 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Darby entered the league as a second-round pick of the Bills in 2015 and wasted no time announcing his presence in the NFL with 68 tackles, 21 passes defended and two interceptions in his first season.

He finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting to Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, although Buffalo traded him to the Eagles after just his second season.

It was with Philadelphia that he won Super Bowl LII during his first season after he was traded. 

The Florida State product finished with 18 tackles and six passes defended in three playoff games during that championship run and was a key part of the Eagles' secondary. He played three seasons with the NFC East team before bouncing around to Washington, Denver, Baltimore and Jacksonville over the last five years.

Darby played the 2024 campaign with the Jaguars and appeared in 13 contests with 12 starts. He posted 46 tackles and nine passes defended while earning a solid-but-unspectacular Pro Football Focus grade of 60.3.

While the Texans figure to rely on Derek Stingley and Lamari Lassiter to start at cornerback during the upcoming season, they presumably saw Darby as proven depth when they added him on a one-year deal.

Instead, the 31-year-old is hanging up his cleats after a lengthy and productive career.