Georgia Bulldogs' Rose Bowl legend announces surprise NFL retirement

Former Georgia Bulldogs legend Lorenzo Carter officially hung up his cleats and retired from the NFL this week. The announcement was unexpected, considering Carter had recently signed with the Tennessee Titans and spent the entire offseason training before informing the team he was retiring just before the start of training camp. “He notified us yesterday […]

Kelsey Kramer College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) blocks a field goal attempt by Oklahoma Sooners place kicker Austin Seibert (43) in the second overtime period in the 2018 Rose Bowl college football.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Former Georgia Bulldogs legend Lorenzo Carter officially hung up his cleats and retired from the NFL this week.

The announcement was unexpected, considering Carter had recently signed with the Tennessee Titans and spent the entire offseason training before informing the team he was retiring just before the start of training camp.

“He notified us yesterday that he will be retiring,” Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi told reporters on Wednesday, July 23. “We wish him well.”

Carter, 29, was originally selected out of Georgia by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in New York before joining the Atlanta Falcons as an NFL free agent in 2022.

Following three seasons with the Falcons, Carter signed with the Titans this past March. 

Carter wraps up his seven-year NFL career with 278 tackles and 21.5 sacks across 96 games, including 62 starts. He logged forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in the span.


Lorenzo Carter's Best Georgia Football Moment Helped the Dawgs Punch Ticket to 2018 National Championship vs. Alabama

Before entering the draft, the former five-star recruit from Norcross High School spent four seasons (2014–2017) at Georgia, where he’ll always be remembered for his iconic play in the 2018 Rose Bowl.

Carter came up huge for Georgia by blocking a field goal in double overtime against the Oklahoma Sooners. The block gave Georgia the ball back, and a few plays later, running back Sony Michel scored the game-winning touchdown. 

The play was a game-changer in one of the wildest matchups in college football history and helped Georgia punch a ticket to the national championship, where they ultimately fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

Regardless of the outcome, Carter will always be remembered as a "DGD."