Chiefs news: Mike Person announces retirement from NFL

Former Chiefs lineman Mike Person announces his retirement from NFL.

Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Mike Person announced his official retirement from the National Football League on Sunday, per an interview with 406 MT Sports.

Person enjoyed a much longer-than-expected career in the league after first entering it with the San Francisco 49ers as a seventh round pick out of Montana State in the 2011 NFL Draft. While Person struggled to find himself a long-term home, he persevered with eight different teams over most of the last decade, including two separate stints with the Niners that bookended his career—ending with an appearance in Super Bowl LIV against his former employer, the Chiefs.

Person had previously said he contemplated retirement after the 2018 season, but Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers convinced him to return for one more run with the team. In his interview this weekend, Person mentioned the physical toll of the NFL and his desire to spend time with his children as they grow up.

"“I just feel like now is the right time,” Person said during a phone interview. “Obviously I wish it would have ended differently, especially this past season. You take a beating, and anybody who’s played knows that. At some point you just have to tell yourself now is the right time. My kids are getting older and most likely I’d spend the entire season away from them if I were to sign with someone. I’ve missed too much already.”"

Person signed with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2016 season after losing Parker Ehinger, a former fourth round pick, to a season-ending injury. Person was brought in to serve as depth along the line, but he was never needed by the Chiefs during the rest of the regular season. However, John Dorsey liked him enough to re-sign him to a new one-year deal for the 2017 season. Unfortunately for Person, he wouldn’t make the active roster heading into ’17.

Person also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts (on two occasions), Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and St. Louis Rams in addition to the Chiefs and 49ers. He played in 73 games in his career and started 48 of them including stints at center, guard and tackle.