Buffalo Bills offensive lineman has decided to retire from professional football at the age of 26. The team announced his decision on February 14, 2025, after Doyle spent four years in the league. He made the choice to medically retire due to a leg injury he sustained in August 2023, which caused nerve damage. In a statement released by the team, Doyle explained, “With the current timeline and recovery, it looks like the injury is permanent. I’m no longer able to play at a high level, and it’s time for me to step away. When you know, you know.”
Doyle had also torn his ACL at the start of the 2022 season, and the combination of this injury and the nerve damage proved insurmountable. He reflected on the emotional toll, saying, “I fought hard to recover from the ACL injury, only to face a more severe setback. There’s been a lot of negative emotions and anger, but I’ve learned valuable lessons through it all.”
Doyle was drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and played 11 games during his rookie year. He is not the only player on the team whose career has been impacted by unforeseen medical challenges. In September 2024, teammate Damar Hamlin made a remarkable return to the field less than two years after he collapsed from cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game.
Hamlin shared his experience with Us, saying, “It’s been a long journey. Taking it one day at a time has been my approach, and I’ll continue to do so.” As the Bills reflect on their playoff defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game in January, changes could be coming for the team. Hamlin and wide receiver Amari Cooper will enter the 2025-26 season as free agents, and running back James Cook has indicated he will seek a $15 million contract extension before the season starts.
