Lions Tackle Dan Skipper Retires After 9 Seasons

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, ending a nine-year professional career that spanned multiple teams and included four stints with the Lions.

In an Instagram post, the 31-year-old Skipper reflected on his time in the league, writing, "24 years of putting on pads and a helmet every fall. This year, I'll trade that out to pursue a career on the other side in coaching. The memories and experiences that the NFL has brought me and my family are hard to put into words. Thankful for every person that has been a part of my journey. It's time for me to report as retired. Sorry, I had to do it one last time!"

Skipper, who stands 6-foot-10 and was the tallest player in the NFL, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 after playing college football at Arkansas. He quickly joined the Lions' practice squad that year and appeared briefly on their active roster. Over the years, he bounced between practice squads and rosters of several teams, including the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Indianapolis Colts. His regular-season playing time, however, was...