Amari Cooper Reportedly Informs Raiders He Plans to Retire After Signing Contract

Veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper signed with the Las Vegas Raiders to return to the team that drafted him, but his tenure is done before the 2025 season even began.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Cooper informed the Raiders that he "no longer has the desire to play and intends to retire."

Cooper signed with the Raiders at the end of training camp. Las Vegas released its first depth chart on Wednesday and listed him as a backup behind fellow veteran Jakobi Meyers, with rookie fourth-round pick Dont'e Thornton occupying one of the other starting spots.

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll addressed the wide receiver position last week, noting that Cooper's veteran presence was expected to benefit Thornton and fellow rookie Jack Bech.

"We thought a chance to add a guy like [Cooper], with experience, really to help our young guys, might really suit us well," Carroll told reporters last Thursday. "And so, for Dont'e [Thornton] on the outside, they'll be doing a lot of the same stuff. I think Amari's way can affect him and help him come along. There's a lot of pressure for him to be the only X over there that we're kind of going with, so I think this really balances us out well. And I hope it really suits Jack and Dont'e."

However, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reported that team sources said Cooper "was unimpressive in practice and didn't have the look of a difference maker."

Cooper was selected by the Raiders with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He made an immediate impact and earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in his first two years in the league before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys midway through the 2018 season. He later suited up for the Cleveland Browns and briefly spent time with the Buffalo Bills last year.

The 31-year-old ends his career as a five-time Pro Bowler with 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns.

Cooper's departure makes the Raiders less likely to ship away Meyers, who requested a trade earlier this offseason. Las Vegas will open the year on Sunday against the New England Patriots.