Indianapolis Colts safety Khari Willis took many by surprise Wednesday when he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 26.
A 4th round pick in the 2019 draft who has totaled 34 games over the past three seasons, Willis explained on Instagram that he is stepping down for primarily spiritual reasons.
“After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to officially retire from the NFL, as I wish to dedicate the remainder of my life to furthering the cause of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I want to thank my family, my friends, and all those who supported me in this adventure. (…) I am enthusiastic about the idea of being able to come closer to God from now on, because it brings a lot of joy and meaning to my life. »
A Michigan native, WIllis played his college football with Michigan State University, where he served as captain in 2018.
Last year, he had two interceptions against Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams and Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers.
Rookie Nick Cross is expected to take his place on the Colts roster. Cross was selected 96th in the last draft.
