Two-time Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola announces retirement after 13 NFL seasons

Free-agent Danny Amendola announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons, during which he won two Super Bowl championships. It was confirmed by his agent on social media Monday. Check out the top sportsbook sites for betting on the NFL.

Amendola signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans in 2021 and played eight games for them. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 36-year-old wide receiver is coming off the field despite garnering interest from multiple teams. Amendola has reportedly spoken to broadcast networks about moving into the broadcast booth.

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“It was better than I could have ever imagined,” Amendola said of his career.

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During his time with the New England Patriots from 2013 to 2017, Amendola played a key role in the team’s Super Bowl XLIX and LI championships. In five postseason appearances with them, he amassed 709 receiving yards and six touchdowns, including two scores in the fourth quarter in a comeback 2017 AFC Championship victory.

In addition to his tenure with the Patriots, Amendola also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and the Texans. The hamstring and ankle injuries he suffered last season kept him out of nine games.

Amendola’s NFL career

Despite catching 109 passes for 1,245 yards and six touchdowns in his final season at Texas Tech in 2007, Amendola went undrafted out of college in 2008. After appearing on HBO’s Hard Knocks during the summer of 2008, he spent his entire rookie season on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

During the 2009 season, Amendola was claimed by the St. Louis Rams after a brief stay with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Texas Tech player debuted in the NFL with St. Louis, where he played four seasons.

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He grabbed 43 passes in the 2009 season. In 2010, he racked up an impressive 85 catches for 689 yards and three touchdowns. Despite only playing one game in 2011 due to an injury, he recorded similar numbers in 2012.

Amendola joined the Patriots in March of 2013 following the departure of Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos. The Patriots made a run to the AFC title game that season thanks to his 54 receptions and two touchdowns.

The Patriots won their first title in 10 years the season after Amendola joined the team. In New England’s comeback win over Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, he scored two touchdown passes. Amendola’s four-yard touchdown catch late in Super Bowl XLIX helped the Patriots come back and beat the Seattle Seahawks.

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Over time, the Patriots’ Super Bowl runs saw Amendola make more impressive plays. In Super Bowl LI, he caught a game-winning touchdown pass, leading the Patriots to an epic victory over the Falcons.

In the AFC title game the following year, he helped the Patriots defeat the Jaguars 24-20 with two touchdown receptions. New England lost Super Bowl LII to Philadelphia two weeks later where Amendola grabbed eight of 11 targets for 152 yards. Aside from six touchdowns, Amendola caught 57 passes for 709 yards in 13 playoff games with the Patriots. In those games, the Patriots went 10-3.

A two-year stint with the Lions followed Amendola’s 2018 season in Miami. His year with the Texans in 2021 was cut short by injury, but he caught three touchdowns.

In 163 regular season games, the 5-foot-11 wide receiver finished his career 617 receptions for 6,212 yards and 24 touchdowns. Furthermore, he led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 2009 and punt return average in 2015 with 5,450 yards gained as a returner.