Seahawks TE Greg Olsen retires, begins full-time broadcasting career

Greg Olsen’s pro football career is ending after his one season with the Seattle Seahawks.

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Olsen, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end who has spent 14 seasons in the NFL, announced his retirement Sunday morning on the NFL on FOX pregame show ahead of the NFC Championship between the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 35 year old will now start a full-time broadcasting career with FOX, something that he and the media company had agreed to before the 2020 season.

The Seahawks signed Olsen as a free agent last offseason. He played 11 games (eight starts) for Seattle during the regular season, making 24 receptions on 37 targets for 239 yards and a touchdown. He also appeared in the Seahawks’ lone playoff game but was not targeted in the 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He missed five of Seattle’s last six games during the regular season due to a ruptured plantar fascia. He dealt with that injury in both feet late in his career.

Olsen was set to be a free agent this offseason.

A University of Miami (Fla.) product, Olsen spent the first four years of his career with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the first round in 2007. He enjoyed his most successful run in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, who he spent nine years with and made all three of his Pro Bowl appearances for. He also played in a Super Bowl with Carolina.

Olsen ends his career ranking fifth among all tight ends in the Super Bowl era with 8,683 receiving yards and 742 receptions. His 60 career touchdown catches ranks eight among tight ends. He is also the Carolina franchise leader among tight ends for receiving yards (6,463), receptions (524) and games with 100 receiving yards (10).

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