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Athletes Who Retired In 2021

Updated September 22, 2021 771 votes 55 voters 1.6k views126 items

List RulesVote up the best athletes who announced their retirement in 2021.

Which are the best of the athletes who decided to retire in 2021? This list ranks the best athletes who announced their retirement in 2021. While some athletes planned on retiring in 2021, a few unfortunate ones had to retire due to injury or other personal matters. In many cases, there are famous players who have decided to move on and explore other avenues in life. Other times, recently retired athletes feel that they have made the most out of their careers and want to go out at the top of their game.

Sports stars who retired in 2021 include NFL QB Drew Brees and MLB second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Check this list throughout the year for recent 2021 athlete retirements and vote up the athletes you were most sorry to see call it quits in 2021.

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Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints (2006-2020), San Diego Chargers (2001-2005)
Position: Quarterback
Announced retirement on March 14, 2021

Career Achievements:
Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
Super Bowl MVP (XLIV)
2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011)
First-team All-Pro (2006)
4× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2011, 2018)
13× Pro Bowl (2004, 2006, 2008–2014, 2016–2019)
7× NFL passing yards leader (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
2× NFL passer rating leader (2009, 2018)
6× NFL completion percentage leader (2009–2011, 2017–2019)

NFL Records:
Most career passing yards
Most career pass completions
Highest single-season completion percentage (74.4%)
Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass
Most pass completions in a season
Most 5,000 passing yard seasons
Highest completion percentage in a game (96.7%)
Most touchdown passes in a game (tied)
First player to reach 80,000 career passing yards (286 games)

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Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers (2004-2019); Indianapolis Colts (2020)
Position: Quarterback
Announced retirement on January 20, 2021

Career Achievements:
8× Pro Bowl (2006, 2009–2011, 2013, 2016–2018)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2013)
NFL completion percentage leader (2013)
NFL passing yards leader (2010)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (2008)
NFL passer rating leader (2008)

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Jason Witten
Dallas Cowboys (2003-2017, 2019)
Position: Tight end
Announced retirement on January 27, 2021

Career Achievements:
11× Pro Bowler (2004–2010, 2012–2014, 2017)
2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010)
2× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2012)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2012)
Bart Starr Award (2013)
Most career NFL games by a Tight End (271 games)
Top 20 NFL All Time Career Receiving Yards (13,046)
Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2019)

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Dustin Pedroia
Boston Red Sox (2006–2019)
Position: Second baseman
Announced retirement on February 1, 2021

Career Achievements:
4× All-Star (2008–2010, 2013)
2× World Series champion (2007, 2013)[a]
AL MVP (2008)
AL Rookie of the Year (2007)
4× Gold Glove Award (2008, 2011, 2013, 2014)
Silver Slugger Award (2008)
Home runs: 140
Runs batted in: 725
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Julian Edelman
New England Patriots (2009-2020)
Position: Wide receiver
Announced retirement on April 12, 2021

Career Achievements:
3× Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII)
Super Bowl MVP (LIII)
New England Patriots 2010s All-Decade Team
Super Bowl Record - Most Receptions in a 1st Half (7)
Super Bowl Record - Most Career Punt Returns (8)

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Adam Vinatieri
Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots
Position: Placekicker
Announced retirement on May 26, 2021

Career Achievements:
4× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLI)
3× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2014)
3× First-team All-Pro (2002, 2004, 2014)
NFL's all-time leading scorer (2,673 points)
Most consecutive field goals made (44)
Most combined regular season and postseason games played (397)
Most career field goals made (599)
Most career field goals attempted (715)
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Greg Olsen
Chicago Bears (2007-2010), Carolina Panthers (2011-2019)
Position: Tight end
Announced retirement on January 24, 2021

Career Achievements:
3× Pro Bowler (2014–2016)
2× Second-team All-Pro (2015, 2016)
NFL All-Rookie Team (2007)
First Tight End with three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons

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Khabib Nurmagomedov
American Kickboxing Academy
Position: UFC
Announced retirement on March 18, 2021

Career Achievements:
Perfect Fight Record: 29-0
8 knockouts, 11 submissions, 10 wins by decision
Longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion in history
WCSF World Championship Gold Medals (2009, 2010)

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Maurkice Pouncey
Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-2020)
Position: Guard, Center
Announced retirement on February 12, 2021

Career Achievements:
3× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2012, 2014)
2× Second-team All-Pro (2010, 2018)
9× Pro Bowl (2010–2012, 2014, 2016–2020)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2010)
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
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Alex Smith
San Francisco 49ers (2005–2012) Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2017) Washington Football Team (2018–2020)
Position: Quarterback
Announced retirement on April 19, 2021

Career Achievements:
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2020)
3× Pro Bowl (2013, 2016, 2017)
NFL passer rating leader (2017)
#1 overall pick in 2005 NFL Draft

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Mike Pouncey
Miami Dolphins (2011-2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2018-2020)
Position: Center
Announced retirement on February 12, 2021

Career Achievements:
4× Pro Bowl (2013–2015, 2018)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2011)
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Joakim Noah
Chicago Bulls (2007–2016), New York Knicks (2016–2018)
Position: Center
Announced retirement on March 1, 2021

Career Achievements:
2× NBA All-Star (2013, 2014)
All-NBA First Team (2014)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014)
2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2013, 2014)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2011)
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2015)
2× NCAA champion (2006, 2007)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2006)
Consensus second-team All-American (2007)

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Sean Lee
Dallas Cowboys (2010-2020)
Position: Linebacker
Announced retirement on April 26, 2021

Career Achievements:
2× Pro Bowl (2015, 2016)
First-team All-Pro (2016)
802 career tackles
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Daniel Murphy
New York Mets (2008–2009, 2011–2015)
Position: Outfielder, Left fielder, Infielder, First baseman, Second baseman
Announced retirement on January 29, 2021

Career Achievements:
3× All-Star (2014, 2016, 2017)
NLCS MVP (2015)
2× Silver Slugger Award (2016, 2017)
Home runs: 138
Runs batted in: 735

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Anthony Sherman
Arizona Cardinals (2011-2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-2020)
Position: Fullback
Announced retirement on March 4, 2021

Career Achievements:
Super Bowl champion (LIV)
Pro Bowl (2018)
Second-team All-Pro (2014)
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Leander Paes
India
Position: Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Announced retirement on January 1, 2021

Career Achievements:
65 Career Titles
1 Olympic Bronze Medal (1996)
Ranked No. 1 Doubles Player in the World for 39 Weeks (1999-2000)
Career Grand Slam in Doubles and Mixed Doubles
Australian Open (2003, 2010, 2012, 2015)
French Open (1999, 2001, 2009, 2016)
Wimbledon (1999 (both), 2003, 2010, 2015)
US Open (2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015)
Record for most Double Wins in the Davis Cup

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Nick Markakis
Baltimore Orioles (2006–2014), Atlanta Braves (2015–2020)
Position: Right fielder
Announced retirement on March 12, 2021

Career Achievements:
All-Star (2018)
Silver Slugger Award (2018)
3× Gold Glove Award (2011, 2014, 2018)
Hits: 2,388
Home runs: 189
Runs batted in: 1,046

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Alejandro Valverde
Kelme (2002 - 2004), Illes Balears–Banesto (2005 - 2010)
Position: All Rounder
Announced retirement on January 22, 2021

Career Achievements:
127 Career Wins
Winner of 4 Individual Stages Tour du France (2005, 2008, 2012)
Winner Vuelta a España (2009)
Winner Critérium du Dauphiné (2008, 2009)
Winner Tour of the Basque Country (2017)
Winner Volta a Catalunya (2009, 2017 2018)
Winner Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2006, 2008, 2015, 2017)
Winner La Flèche Wallonne (2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Winner Clásica de San Sebastián (2008, 2014)
Champion of the 2006 and 2008 UCI ProTours
Champion of the 2014 and 2015 UCI World Tours
Winner World Championship Road Race (2018)
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Donald Penn
Minnesota Vikings (2006), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-2013)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Announced retirement on March 15, 2021

Career Achievements:
3× Pro Bowl (2010, 2016, 2017)
Games started: 189
Receptions: 6
Receiving yards: 26
Receiving touchdowns: 4
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Corey Crawford
Chicago Blackhawks (2005-2020)
Position: Goaltender
Announced retirement on January 9, 2021

Career Achievements:
NHL All-Rookie Team (2011)
NHL All Star (2015, 2017)
Stanley Cup champion (2013, 2015)
William M. Jennings Trophy (2013, 2015)
World Cup of Hockey - Gold Medal (2016)
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Vance McDonald
San Francisco 49ers (2013-2017), Pittsburgh Steelers (2017-2020)
Position: Tight end
Announced retirement on January 22, 2021

Career Achievements:
2,000 Receiving Yards
15 TDs
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Antoine Bethea
Indianapolis Colts, (2006-2013)
Position: Safety
Announced retirement on January 7, 2021

Career Achievements:
Super Bowl champion (XLI)
3× Pro Bowler (2007, 2009, 2014)
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Matt Schaub
Atlanta Falcons (2004-2006, 2016-2020)
Position: Quarterback
Announced retirement on January 4, 2021

Career Achievements:
2× Pro Bowler (2009, 2012)
Pro Bowl MVP (2009)
NFL passing yards leader (2009)

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Tim Tebow
New York Mets Organization
Position: Leftfielder
Announced retirement on February 17, 2021

Career Achievements:
Hits: 210
Home runs: 18
Runs batted in: 107

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Arjen Robben
PSV Eindhoven, Bayern Munich
Position: Winger
Announced retirement on July 15, 2021

Career Titles:
Eredivisie champion (2003)
Johan Cruyff Shield (2003)
Premier League champion (2005, 2006)
FA Cup champion (2007)
Football League Cup champion (2005, 2007)
FA Community Shield winner (2005)
La Liga champion (2008)
Supercopa de España champion (2008)
Bundesliga champion (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
DFB-Pokal champion (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019)
DFL-Supercup champion (2010, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018)
UEFA Champions League champion (2013)
UEFA Super Cup champion (2013)
FIFA World Cup runner-up (2010)

Career Awards:
Johan Cruijff Prijs Award (2003)
Premier League Player of the Month (November 2004)
PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2005)
ESM Team of the Year (2005, 2010, 2015)
Bravo Award 2(005)
Goal of the Month in Germany (January 2010, March 2010, April 2010, February 2013)
VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season (2010)
The kicker Man of the Year (2010)
Footballer of the Year in Germany (2010)
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award (2013 - 4th place, 2014 - 3rd place)
UEFA Team of the Year (2011, 2014)
UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2014)
FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball (2014)
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2014)
FIFA World XI (2014)
FIFA Ballon d'Or (4th place - 2014)
Dutch Sportsman of the year (2014)

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Nick Markakis