Former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz announced he’s officially closing the book on his NFL career. The 33-year-old California alum was out of football since his release from the Chiefs in March 2021.
Schwartz made the announcement on his official Twitter account with the following message:
“I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” said Schwartz. “It’s been almost two years since I injured my back. I had surgery last February and have been doing rehab ever since. I’m currently feeling as good as I have since then, but it’s clear my body won’t ever be the same. The nerve pain down my legs is no longer a daily occurrence, but it may never go away.“I’ve enjoyed so much about my time in the NFL and am walking away feeling very fulfilled. Winning the Super Bowl was the pinnacle of my career. My 7,894 consecutive snap streak and 4 All-Pro nominations are my proudest individual accomplishments, far exceeding my own expectations. I’ve met so many great people and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. Football was a big part of my life and always will be. But I never defined myself as only a football player.”
Schwartz played nine seasons in the National Football League, beginning his career as the 37th overall pick in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns. Schwartz entered the pros as an immediate starter on Cleveland’s o-line and never missed a single snap during his four years with the Browns.
The 6-foot-5 tackle hit the open market in 2016 and signed a heft five-year, $33 million contract with the Chiefs, making him one of the highest-paid right tackles in the league at the time. From 2016 to 2019, Schwartz continued his snap streak in Kansas City, starting all 16 games and playing on 4,141 consecutive snaps through his first four years with the Chiefs, earning him consecutive All-Pro nominations every season.
In 2020, Schwartz suffered a back injury during practice leading up to a Week 6 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. He went to play in that game but left early after aggravating the injury further. He was eventually placed on the Chiefs’ injured reserve list and was never again seen on an NFL field. Kansas City released Schwartz the following offseason.
In nine NFL seasons, Schwartz played 70 games and was on the field for 8,787 consecutive snaps. In 2018, he was named a first-team All-Pro and a second-team All-Pro in ‘16, ‘17, and ‘19.
