WR Rashard Higgins and LB Christian Kirksey To Retire As Browns

Linebacker Christian Kirksey and wideout Rashard Higgins have both formally announced their intention to hang up their cleats, but they will do so as representatives of the franchise that selected them. The Browns announced on Tuesday that both players would sign one-day contracts.

During his first six years, Higgins was a complementary receiver for the Cleveland Browns. 2020 was his greatest season, with 37 receptions for 599 yards and four touchdowns. His ability as a vertical threat was evidenced by his 16.2 yards per reception average, but by 2022, indications were that he would leave as a free agent.

In fact, that offseason, the former fifth-round pick inked a one-year contract with the Panthers. Nevertheless, Higgins, 29, only made three appearances in games that year. After missing the previous season due to injury, he will end his NFL career with a career salary of almost $8.3 million rather than trying to make a run at the league record.

Prior to the 2023 season, Kirksey signed with the Bills in an attempt to join a competitive team. But his time at Buffalo turned out to be quite brief, as he announced his retirement from the team in September. The news of today shows that that decision was not made formally during the campaign, but the former third-round pick did not play for any team in the previous campaign.

Kirksey started 54 of 73 games in his six years with the Browns. Twice in that time (in 2016 and 2017), he recorded more than 100 tackles; the second time was in his 2022 game with the Texans. The Iowa native led his team to be nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year in both Cleveland and Houston.

Throughout his one season with the Packers in 2020 and his two seasons as a Texan, Kirksey was a full-time starter. The 31-year-old was dismissed midway through his most expensive contract, a four-year, $38 million extension with the Browns signed in 2017, having dedicated the most of his career to developing clubs. Nevertheless, he appeared in an NFC championship game with Green Bay and earned a little more than $39 million in salary over his career.

According to a team release, “We are thrilled that Rashard and Christian wanted to come back and retire as Cleveland Browns.” “It is evident that both players had an influence on the field, but they also left a lasting impression on the Cleveland community. We are honored to have them retire as members of the Brown family because it speaks volumes about who they are as people.