The Detroit Lions are entering a period of success they haven’t tasted in generations. With their current roster, they’re viewed as a yearly Super Bowl contender, winning the NFC North and making playoff runs.

But fans are now processing the news that one of their all-time greats is officially retiring from football.

This weekend, Ndamukong Suh revealed his decision to step away from the NFL, sharing a heartfelt message online:

Through an emotional post on X, Suh shared that his retirement comes exactly one year after the passing of his father on July 12, 2024.

Suh last played in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles, suiting up for eight games after joining midseason. He ended the year with 10 tackles and a single sack.

During an April 2023 interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Suh said he wasn’t ruling out a return. While retirement was on the table, he admitted his mind wasn’t yet made up.

Later in October, he mentioned on Sky Sports that the Baltimore Ravens had directly reached out about a potential signing.

Despite the interest, no deal came through, making retirement feel inevitable. At 38 years old, paired with the long gap since his last game, a comeback seemed far-fetched.

Suh dominated at Nebraska before the Lions made him their 2010 first-round pick. In Detroit, he logged 36 sacks, five Pro Bowls, and three All-Pro selections in just five seasons.

At the time, he was the most disruptive interior lineman in the NFL and earned a six-year, $114 million deal with the Dolphins in 2015. But his play declined almost instantly.

His stint in Miami was rocky, both on and off the field, and he was cut after three seasons. Many viewed his tenure with the Dolphins as a major disappointment.

Suh found redemption later. He made his first Super Bowl with the Rams in 2018, then won the championship with the Buccaneers in 2020.

That title with Tampa Bay could help shape his legacy, keeping him in the Hall of Fame discussion. He was named one of four defensive tackles on the All-2010s team.

Suh’s career was one most players dream of. However, the contrast between his Detroit years and everything after will be a key topic when voters judge his Hall case.