Why did DeVante Parker retire from NFL only two months after joining the Philadelphia Eagles?

The union between DeVante Parker and the Philadelphia Eagles was incredibly short and not really long enough to be sweet, with the long-time Miami Dolphins wide receiver opting to retire from football only two months after joining his third NFL team, for whom he didn’t play a game.

How much was Parker’s Eagles deal worth?

The 31-year-old signed for the Super Bowl LVII runners-up in free agency during the offseason, agreeing a $1.2 million deal in the middle of March after being cut by the New England Patriots, with whom he had linked up in 2022 following a seven-year spell in Miami.

At the time, his agent told ESPN: “DeVante is thrilled and grateful to become a Philadelphia Eagle and to help this elite organization win a championship”.

It turns out, however, that two months is a long time and that hypothetical championship will now not be happening, at least for the player.

During the offseason, Parker made the decision to prioritize family over football, with the wide receiver telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday that spending time with his four children was what was now most important to him.

What did Parker say about retiring from NFL?

“I want to see my kids, spend quality time with them,” Parker said. “I want to be there for them whenever I can.”

“I appreciate the Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the opportunity. I always will have love for the Dolphins and their organization. And I want to thank all the teams, the Patriots and the Eagles, too. But the Dolphins were the first team, and I really want to thank them.”

Parker was picked 14th by the Dolphins in 2015 NFL Draft and became their No. 6 receiver all time with 4,727 yards and 24 touchdowns on 338 receptions. He finishes his NFL career with 369 catches for 5,266 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns.