NFL news: Commanders cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon retires from NFL at 31

Washington Commanders cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is retiring from the NFL at 31 years old.

The team announced Tuesday that they placed Witherspoon on the Reserve/Retired List and signed cornerback Fabian Moreau to take his place. Witherspoon practiced Monday and informed the team Tuesday morning that he was retiring, according to ESPN.

Witherspoon signed a one-year, $1.41 million contract with the Commanders in May but will not suit up for them this fall.

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Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (4) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 7, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Witherspoon played college football at Colorado, where he starred as a defensive back. In 37 games, he recorded 71 tackles, three interceptions, 27 passes defended, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

In his senior year, Witherspoon led Division I college football with 22 passes defended. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he became a key piece in their secondary.

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Washington Commanders cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon participates in a drill on the first day of training camp at BigBear.ai Performance Center at Commanders Park in Ashburn, Va., on July 29, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

He started 33 of the 47 games he played with the 49ers, recording 117 tackles and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, with 24 passes defended.

After four years with the 49ers, Witherspoon signed with the Seattle Seahawks, only to be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before ever suiting up for them. He spent the next two seasons in Pittsburgh.

Witherspoon played in 13 games with the Steelers, starting seven of them. He recorded 35 tackles and four interceptions over his two seasons.

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Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 22, 2024. (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

After two years in Pittsburgh, he then signed what would become the first of three consecutive one-year contracts with the Los Angeles Rams. The best season of his career came in his first year with the Rams, when he started all 17 games and recorded 52 tackles and three interceptions.

For his career, Witherspoon started 64 of the 96 games he played in, recorded 243 tackles, 13 interceptions and 60 passes defended.

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