Rams Champion CB Donte Deayon Announces Retirement
Former Los Angeles Rams defender Donte Deayon announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, ending a seven-season career. Deayon was part of the Rams' championship squad from 2021-22, appearing in 10 regular season games in the run to Super Bowl LVI.
The Boise State alum made his announcement by posting his retirement notice letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on his social media channels. He labeled the Rams' Super Bowl victory as "one of the highlights of (his) career."
"I am proud to have been part of a team that achieved such a significant milestone," Deayon wrote. "The support and guidance from the league, along with the support of my fellow teammates, coaches, and fans were instrumental in making that dream a reality."
Though Deayon did not play in the final 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, he partook in 10 during the 2021 season, his fourth and final in Southern California. In that span, he had 29 tackles and two pass breakups and later had two and one respectively in the NFC Wild Card victory over Arizona.
He was perhaps best known in Los Angeles for jokingly comparing his workout routine and 159-lb. physique to the hulking Aaron Donald, much to the latter's amusement in an exchange caught by HBO cameras in the 2020 edition of "Hard Knocks." Deayon also earned a preseason interception against Dallas in the Rams' Honolulu showcase in 2019.
In addition to his time with the Rams, Deayon played three seasons with the New York Giants, joining the latter after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He played 21 regular season games over five years and made his one credited start with Los Angeles in October 2021, earning seven tackles and a pass breakup in a win over Houston.
"As I move forward into retirement, I will always cherish the memories of my time in the NFL, the lessons I learned, and the relationships I formed," Deayon said in his letter. "I look forward to the next chapter in my life and will always be grateful for the time I spent in the NFL."
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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