Travis Swanson nåede at spille fem sæsoner i NFL, hvoraf de første fire var for Detroit Lions. Den seneste sæson tilbragte han i Miami, hvilket samtidig bliver hans sidste. Det meddeler Swanson på sin Instagram profil.

Swanson har spillet sin sidste sæson i NFL og indstillere karrieren som 28-årig efter blot 5 sæsoner i ligaen. Swanson kæmpede med hjernerystelser i sin tid hos Lions, og fødslen af sin datter har givet ham nye prioriteter i livet.

Han blev drafted i 3. runde af 2014 draften og blev hurtigt fast mand på den offensive linje i Detroit. Hans karriere blev dog stoppet af skader – ikke mindst hjernerystelser – og indfriede aldrig de forventninger, der er til et 3. rundevalg.

Da Swansons kontrakt udløb efter 2017 sæsonen kæmpede han med at finde jobs. Først kom han i training camp hos New York Jets og senere hos Miami Dolphins, som endte med at skrive kontrakt med centeren. Han var i direkte konkurrence med Daniel Kilgore, der – mod forventningerne – vandt starterjobbet:

Daniel Kilgore nåede at starte fire kampe på center, men da Kilgore røg på injured reserve og måtte sidde ude resten af sæsonen, tog Travis Swanson over og spillede positionen.
Det blev Swansons sidste. Det meldte han ud tidligere i dag på instagram.

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I decided to retire from the game of football. Those words are hard to write. However, I have a sense of comfort knowing Emily and I are walking away from this game with offers that were on the table. This ultimately came down to a family decision between Emily and I. When my daughter Kendyl was born and I first saw her, my heart expanded and completely changed my priorities. I will always love football, but the love for your child is a level of love that has no comparison. I have been an offensive lineman for 22 years of my life and will be for the remainder. In my years as a lineman, I have learned so many life lessons. It is extraordinary that this game has the power to take a kid from Kingwood, Texas to places all over the globe. I have played on phenomenal teams, played for phenomenal coaches, and played in phenomenal stadiums. I cannot thank enough all the individuals who have helped me along the way and I will personally thank each one of you privately. The people I have met and the places I have been I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Emily and I have gained friends all over the country through this game. Thank you again to everyone who has helped Emily and I along the way to get to where we have gone. We are excited to start this next chapter in our life.

A post shared by Travis Swanson (@tswan64) on

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