Mohamed Sanu‘s playing days have officially come to an end. The veteran receiver announced on Friday that he has retired.
“After 10+ years in the NFL, my playing chapter is closing,” Sanu wrote on X. “Grateful for every coach, teammate & fan. Excited to give back through coaching & share the game in a new way with the Facts Over Stats podcast. The Journey continues.”
Sanu last played a regular-season game in 2021, and he very briefly spent time with the Dolphins the following summer. Given the time that has elapsed since Friday’s announcement, it is certainly an unexpected one. Nevertheless, it marks an end to the 36-year-old’s career as a player.
Selected in the third round of the 2012 draft, Sanu played out his rookie contract with the Bengals. He established himself as a starting-caliber receiver during that period, a status that remained consistent throughout his Falcons tenure (2016-19). In the 2018 campaign, Sanu set a new personal mark with 838 receiving yards; that season also marked the only time one of his eight career pass attempts (four of which resulted in a touchdown) fell incomplete.
After a midseason trade saw him finish the year with the Patriots, the Rutgers product split his time between the 49ers and Lions the following campaign. Sanu saw a downturn in usage and production during that span, and he remained a part-time contributor upon returning to San Francisco for 2021. After being released by the Dolphins in August of 2022, no known visits took place and no further playing opportunities presented themselves.
Multiple years removed from his final playing action in the NFL, Sanu will now officially turn his attention to other pursuits. In all, he played 145 combined regular and postseason games and amassed nearly $32M in career earnings.
