Former Detroit Lions defensive back Andre Chachere has officially stepped away from professional football, bringing to a close an NFL journey that spanned nearly a decade and featured numerous stops along the way.

Chachere, now 30, filed his retirement papers after a career in which he appeared in 46 NFL games and started six of them. His last game action came during the 2023 season, though he continued to spend time on various practice squads before ultimately deciding to retire.

A Long and Unconventional NFL Journey

Chachere first entered the league in 2018 when he signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He initially spent time on Houston’s practice squad before briefly joining the Detroit Lions later that same season. His stint in Detroit was short-lived, however, as the team released him in December. That move became part of a long stretch of roster changes early in his career.

After several years of moving between teams and practice squads, Chachere finally made his NFL regular-season debut with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. That season proved to be his most active, as he played in 16 games and started once, recording 15 tackles while primarily contributing on special teams.

Over the course of his career, Chachere spent time with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals, logging two seasons with each franchise. Across his time in the league, he totaled 51 tackles and defended three passes, earning most of his snaps on special teams units.

College Career and Scouting Outlook

Before entering the NFL, Chachere built a solid collegiate résumé at San Jose State University. He appeared in 49 games for the Spartans and started 32 of them across four seasons. Although he was primarily a cornerback, he demonstrated versatility by lining up at several different positions, including nickel back, safety, and even linebacker.

His performance at the college level earned him an invitation to the 2018 NFLPA All-Star Game. Despite that opportunity, he went undrafted after his senior season.

At the time, draft analyst Lance Zierlein of NFL.com suggested that Chachere had the tools to develop into a useful NFL role player. Zierlein noted that while Chachere displayed intelligence, anticipation, and the ability to compete in coverage, his ability to defend deep passes remained an area where improvement was needed.

Appreciating the Opportunity

Throughout his career, Chachere maintained a positive outlook despite frequently being released and re-signed by different teams. During the 2022 season, he spoke about how much he valued every opportunity he received in the league.

He explained that each chance—whether it was a workout, a practice squad role, or a spot on the active roster—was something he never took for granted. Around Thanksgiving that year, he reflected on his path and said he felt grateful simply to still be involved in the league.

Chachere also once joked about the many stops he had made while trying to establish himself in the NFL, listing the various teams he had joined during his career journey. Despite the constant movement, he ultimately carved out a respectable professional run before deciding it was time to move on from the game.