Breeland Speaks announces retirement from professional football
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 2, 2026, 11:08 PM
Last updated Jul 2, 2026
Breeland Speaks, Kansas City Chiefs' second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, announced his retirement from professional football on June 30, 2026, at age 30. Though his NFL career was limited, playing only one season with the Chiefs and suffering from injuries, he later found success in the USFL and UFL, including earning the UFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024. Speaks discussed his journey and the lessons learned from his experiences in the NFL and subsequent leagues in a retirement video on Instagram. His story reflects resilience despite the challenges faced during his time in the NFL.
- •Speaks was selected by the Chiefs in the 2018 draft.
- •He played one season in the NFL and later joined spring leagues.
- •Speaks won the UFL Defensive Player of the Year title in 2024.
- •He announced his retirement via Instagram.
- •His career spans teams including the Raiders, Cowboys, and Michigan Panthers.
- 11:08 PMYahoo Sports — Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach's first draft pick retires from football after a successful playing career outside of the NFL
"Breeland Speaks had a forgettable NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by first-year GM Brett Veach. His story of adversity and reinvention is one worth remembering.
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