Ronald Darby has decided to call time on his NFL career. The Houston Texans cornerback has officially retired after 10 seasons.
Darby signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Texans in March but never took the field for Houston. Throughout his NFL journey, he suited up for six other teams: the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
At just 31 years old, Darby finishes with an impressive career total of 447 tackles, 106 passes defensed, and eight interceptions in 118 games, including 107 starts.
Drafted 50th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by Buffalo, Darby made an immediate impact as a rookie. He started 15 games, grabbed two interceptions, and recorded a career-high 21 passes defensed, finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Despite his strong start, Darby spent only two seasons with the Bills before being traded to Philadelphia ahead of the 2017 season. That trade proved to be a turning point for both Darby and the Eagles, who went on to win Super Bowl LII. Darby started all three playoff games and tied for the league lead with six passes defended during the postseason. His three-year stint with the Eagles remains his longest with any team.
Following Philadelphia, Darby continued his career with the Commanders, starting 16 games in 2020. He then spent two seasons with the Broncos, starting 16 games from 2021 to 2022. In 2023, he played 16 games for the Ravens, starting seven, and finished his career with 12 starts in 13 games for the Jaguars.
While Darby’s retirement leaves the Texans a bit thinner at cornerback, Houston is well-stocked at the position. Young stars like Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre have already shown they can lead the way.
As Darby moves on from football, Houston will continue building their promising cornerback group. Meanwhile, Darby heads into the next chapter of his life after a solid and well-travelled NFL career.
Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images
