"It is a blessing how far sports have taken me in this life. I was determined to make football work after baseball failed me, and I never let anyone tell me I couldn't do anything... I fought daily to be the best version of myself that I could, and I hope it showed on the field with the passion I played with every snap and every game."
"Hurst certainly had an unorthodox path to professional football. A 2012 draftee of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he wound up making only one start as pitcher in the minor leagues. With his baseball journey coming to an abrupt end, Hurst turned his attention to football and enjoyed a productive three-year tenure at South Carolina."
Hayden Hurst announced his retirement on Tuesday, concluding a seven-year NFL career. The veteran tight end did not see game time in 2025 and chose to retire rather than pursue another free agent contract. Hurst's path to professional football was unconventional, beginning as a 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick before transitioning to college football at South Carolina. Selected 25th overall in the 2018 NFL draft by Baltimore, Hurst played for multiple teams including the Ravens, Falcons, Bengals, and Panthers. His retirement message emphasized gratitude for his journey and commitment to excellence throughout his career.
Read at Pro Football Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]