Daurice Fountain battled at every turn in his professional football journey. Yet in his goodbye to the game, the veteran wide receiver made it clear that he loved every step.
A former member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Fountain announced his decision to retire from the National Football League on Saturday. He let his intentions be known via a heartfelt post on social media that allowed him to express his appreciation in spite of the many hurdles against him.
✌🏾🏈❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/ANyZiU7iRo
— Daurice Fountain (@Reece_JMM) July 19, 2025
Here's a transcript of what Fountain had to say:
"Dear Football, It breaks my heart to say this, but I believe our time has come to an end.
"After over 20 years of sacrifice, sweat, blood, and tears... I’m finally laying to rest the game that once gave me so much joy. This game changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. It gave me purpose, discipline, and a sense of belonging. It built brotherhoods, created memories, and taught me lessons that shaped me into the man I am today. And for that I will forever be grateful.
"Through the highs and lows, the wins and losses, and the moments that nearly broke me, I always found beauty in it all. There was always something to learn, something to grow from, and something to hold on to.
"To my family, my coaches, my trainers, and especially my teammates — you’ve all been part of something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. The bond we share is one that no scoreboard could ever reflect. That’s what made this journey worth it.
"I’ve poured my heart into this game. And everyone who knows me knows just how deep that love runs. I gave it everything I had and I wouldn’t trade a single second of it.
"So thank you, football. You’ve changed my life for the better. You’ll always have a place in my heart. Here’s to whatever comes next. 🖤 With love, Reece ✌🏾"
Even in Fountain's pre-draft journey, he faced long odds. He was overlooked by those inviting prospects to the annual NFL Combine in 2018, despite being named the offensive MVP for the East-West Shrine Game with 3 catches for 61 yards and another 40 yards on punt returns.
Despite the oversight, Fountain's natural talents and production at Northern Iowa made him a desired target on the Indianapolis Colts' big board. Former Chiefs exec and current Colts general manager Chris Ballard selected Fountain in the fifth round of the draft that year.
Fountain would spend his rookie campaign on the Colts practice squad fro every game but one, only to lose his entire sophomore season in the NFL on injured reserve. In his third season, he fought his way back to the active roster and made his biggest splash at the professional level with 64 snaps over 5 games. He finished the year with two catches for 23 yards.
The Colts went on to release Fountain the following spring, and the Chiefs took advantage. It wasn't long before Fountain was turning heads in the preseason and generating buzz as a potential roster surprise. However, Fountain would only briefly surface in two games in that first year on special teams for the Chiefs. In his second season, Fountain would largely stay on K.C.'s practice squad before asking for his mid-season release.
The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions would both extend Fountain his next two NFL opportunities, but he would never again play in an official game. The receiver also spent last season out of football.
While the reps proved hard to come by, Fountain generated looks from four different NFL teams, was a part of the Chiefs' run of sustained success, and earned over $2.2 million (per Spotrac) in his NFL career. Here's hoping Fountain finds a successful next step away from the game he loves.
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