Ex-Dolphins, Titans WR Rishard Matthews Retires from NFL After 7-Year Career

Wide receiver Rishard Matthews announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.  

Matthews, 29, played for the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets during his seven-year career, catching 230 passes for 3,160 yards and 21 scores.

Last season, he caught just five passes for 24 yards during his time with the Titans and Jets. 

It appeared Matthews had found a home in Tennessee after posting 118 receptions for 1,740 yards and 13 touchdowns between the 2016 and 2017 campaigns. But he had a falling out with then-offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, which he explained in April, per Allan Bell of 247Sports:

"Was straight Until Punk ass LaFleur came through and told me I had to earn my starting spot back and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. Then bounced after one year. I probably should have gutted it out but that guy was too disrespectful and I'm not a guy that lets someone s--t on your face then spend every day as if it didn't happen, so you make decisions and you move on."

Matthews asked for a release from Tennessee and was granted one early last season before he signed with the Jets.

He was with the New Orleans Saints during training camp this summer, though he was released on Saturday after leaving the team, per Mike Triplett of ESPN:

Matthews, who started his career with the Dolphins, also tried to force his way out of Miami before the 2015 season when he became unhappy with his reduced role. While that request wasn't granted—and Matthews played well that season, catching 43 passes for 662 yards and four scores in 11 games—he signed with the Titans in free agency ahead of the 2016 campaign.