Ryan Ramczyk, the once-great right tackle for the New Orleans Saints has decided to hang ’em up—officially going on record with his retirement from the NFL. He posted the bittersweet news to his followers on Instagram. This brings the curtain down on his very impressive seven-season career that began in 2017. Up next, the Saints drafted Ramczyk as the 32nd overall pick in 2017. He soon became one of the most intimidating players in the league.
The Saints’ Ramczyk made the announcement public only last week, following a difficult 2022 campaign. For him, the biggest obstacle was a return of a cartilage defect in one of his knees. This painful ailment had already caused him to miss seven games during the truncated 2021 campaign. He managed to play through the entire duration of the 2022 season without missing a single game. As the 2023 season kicked off, unfortunately the same issue resurfaced, calling into question whether he could sustain his elite play.
In his Instagram post, Ramczyk said he would be “forever grateful” to the New Orleans Saints fan base. McCoy closed with a shoutout to the awesome New Orleans Saints fans. Your passion, love and spirit are second to none, and you made me feel at home in New Orleans. Powerful stuff, and indicative of the connection he developed with fans over his years in New Orleans.
Ramczyk joins the likes of Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara as members of one of the more successful draft classes in Saints’ history. He was the second overall pick in 2017. In addition, from 2018-2020, he greatly helped increase the quality of the team’s offensive line and was named an All-Pro three times. His resurgent 2021 performances left no doubt his play returned him to the conversations as one of the league’s elite tackles.
Ramczyk’s retirement announcement comes hot on the heels of Terron Armstead’s own retirement decision just two weeks prior. Both players have had tremendous success since their days on the Saints. This is a notable change for the Saints’ offensive line — losing two pillar performers in short order.
Ramczyk’s retirement will have immediate implications on the Saints’ 2024 salary cap posture. By virtue of his retirement, he will save the team nearly $23 million in salary cap room. It will create a shocking $11 million in dead money on their books. In addition, Ramczyk had already restructured his contract this offseason. He reduced his base salary to $1.255 million, which he can elect to have credited after June 1.
Reflecting on his journey, Ramczyk remarked, “Today I reflect on all the twists and turns that got me to this point, from technical college to become a ‘welder’ to All-Pro in the NFL.” His story is a beacon of hope for thousands of young athletes who are struggling to overcome adversity in their quest to reach stardom.
The NFL community recognizes Ramczyk not only for his skills on the field but for his character off it. He understands the game on every level and he is devoted to the city of New Orleans. Her passion has left an indelible mark on passionate fans and cordial teammates.
In leaving the game of professional football, Ramczyk enters the world of retirement with an incredible legacy. He triumphed over tremendous odds to greatness, inspiring millions along the way.
Leave a Reply