The Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, continue to fine-tune their roster as they prepare to defend their NFL title. With the goal of making another run to the Super Bowl, the Missouri franchise is now dealing with the surprising retirement of a league champion.
The talent of 29-year-old Mahomes, combined with the experience of stars like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, has been key to the Chiefs‘ success in recent years. However, maintaining this core group may involve some changes when considering which weapons the team will rely on to compete.
As the front office keeps working to finalize the roster for the upcoming season, one of Mahomes’ teammates has said goodbye to professional football and will be leaving Reid’s squad at just 29 years old, an age where many expected him to have more left in the tank.
Which of Mahomes’ teammates retired?
Wide receiver Richie James, a Super Bowl 2024 champion, has abruptly retired. The decision was confirmed by James himself on social media, where he explained that a lingering knee injury led him to step away from the game.
Richie James of the Chiefs
James was a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played three seasons with them, totaling 689 yards and three touchdowns. After spending the 2022 season with the New York Giants, he joined the Chiefs in 2023. He appeared in nine games and contributed on special teams during the Super Bowl campaign, which ultimately became his final official appearance.
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Did James play last season?
James did not play during the 2024 NFL season. The 29-year-old receiver spent the entire year sidelined due to lingering knee injuries and did not appear in any games for the Chiefs before subsequently retiring in July 2025.
