Former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup has unexpectedly retired from the NFL at the age of 28. Gallup, who played for six seasons, made the announcement just a day before he was set to report to the Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp.
He was placed on the retired/reserve list by the Raiders on Tuesday, with ESPN’s Ed Werder noting that the decision surprised the team’s front office.
Gallup cited that his heart was not fully committed to the game. A former third-round pick from Colorado State, Gallup became a 1,000-yard receiver with the Cowboys before suffering an ACL tear.
This offseason, he signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Raiders and participated in organized team activities and minicamp. He was expected to compete for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers.
Throughout his career, Gallup caught 33 passes for 507 yards as a rookie in 2018 and had a standout performance in the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Rams, with six catches for 119 yards. In 2019, he was the team’s second-leading receiver with 66 receptions for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns.
However, after his ACL injury in January 2022, his performance declined. Last season, he managed 34 catches for 418 yards, ranking fourth on the team. The Cowboys released Gallup in March to clear cap space, leading to his brief stint with the Raiders.
Leave a Reply