Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Tommy Doyle is stepping away from his career in professional football.
Doyle, 26, chose to medically retire from the sport following four years in the league, the team revealed on Friday, February 14. The offensive lineman sustained a leg injury in August 2023 that resulted in nerve damage. “At this time, considering the timeline and the recovery process, it appears to be lasting,” Doyle stated in a release shared by the team on Friday. “I’m simply not capable of playing football at a high standard, and the moment has come.” “When you realize, you realize.”
The lineman additionally ruptured his ACL at the start of the 2022 season, and the mix of the two injuries has turned out to be too challenging to recuperate from.
“I was truly struggling and striving to recover from that (ACL) injury, only to be hit by an even more catastrophic injury,” Doyle explained. “However, ultimately, there were many negative feelings and anger…
I’ve been reflecting a lot recently and, upon reviewing it, I’ve gained many important insights from the experience.” Doyle, selected by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, played 11 games during his first season.
Doyle is not the sole member of the team whose career has been disrupted by unforeseen injuries and medical incidents. In September 2024, teammate Damar Hamlin rejoined the Bills’ starting lineup under two years after he fainted on the field during a Monday Night Football match from cardiac arrest.
Hamlin shared with Us exclusively then, “It has been a lengthy journey and an extensive process.” “I managed by approaching it one day at a time.” I will never forget that. That’s how I view the remainder of this life journey I’m experiencing.
Hamlin additionally mentioned that the whole team was concentrated. “I believe the key is to maintain an internal focus and concentrate on the process,” he remarked. “Your journey will progress as much as you believe in it.” I’m fully immersed in my routine, taking it one day at a time.
“I’m dedicated to it.”The team achieved a playoff run this year that concluded with a 32-29 loss in the AFC Championship game to the Kansas City Chiefs in January, and several alterations might be in the Bill’s future after that defeat.
Hamlin and his fellow player Amari Cooper will enter the 2025-26 season as free agents, while James Cook has expressed that he intends to request a contract extension of $15 million prior to the start of the season.
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