Chris Conley, a veteran wide receiver with a decade-long career in the NFL, announced his retirement on Instagram on Saturday morning. That same 29-year-old player was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 77th overall pick in the third round of 2015’s NFL Draft. Now, he’s taking that passion in the opposite direction, going to film school at his alma mater, the University of Georgia.
During that decade-long run, Conley started only 65 games in 132 appearances. He put up some crazy numbers, raking in 226 grabs for 2,998 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. 2019 was his most productive season, with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He set career highs with 47 receptions and 775 receiving yards, while tying his career high with five touchdown catches.
Conley enjoyed a terrific career on the field, where he starred for three different teams. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers. In his last year of 2024, he recorded six receptions for 76 yards. He made an impact on special teams, recovering a fumble. Conley spent the past San Francisco as a depth piece behind starters Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings. Far from being jaded by his position of power, he was a fiercely loyal and enthusiastic footballer.
Looking back on his journey, Conley talked about his dream as a kid of making it ten years in the NFL. Deeply thankful, he said, for the opportunities his career had given him by being able to travel and gain new experiences.
“The past 10 years have been a dream,”
- Chris Conley
Faced with hard social realities in the community around him, Conley passionately dedicated himself to social justice issues during his time in the league. He fully embraced watershed moments such as Colin Kaepernick’s protest and rejoiced over the Rams drafting Michael Sam, the first openly gay player ever picked in the NFL Draft.
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, confirmed the news, first reported by Nick Wagoner and other outlets.
“See you in the next dream.”
- Chris Conley
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, confirmed the announcement, which has been reported by various outlets including Nick Wagoner.
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