Former Packers veteran may have dropped biggest hint yet about his NFL future with latest career move
Tight end Marcedes Lewis, who played five games for the Denver Broncos last year, might have finally retired from football.
Former Green Bay Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis appears ready to close the book on his 20-year NFL career. The fan favorite, known as “Big Dog” among Packers faithful and his former teammates, revealed on social media that he’s now immersing himself in mixed martial arts training, a pursuit he says quietly fueled his remarkable longevity in professional football. Lewis spent five seasons in Green Bay, totaling 582 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and became a beloved figure during the final years of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the franchise.
Lewis posted on social media about his long-held passion for MMA.
Reading between the lines
That phrase, “for the first time in my life, I have the freedom to fully immerse myself,” sends a clear message. Lewis is no longer keeping one foot in the football world. The 42-year-old tight end has not officially announced his retirement, but the language leaves little room for interpretation.
Lewis was a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006 and spent the bulk of his career there before signing with Green Bay in 2018. He carved out a meaningful role with the Packers across five seasons, serving as a veteran leader and reliable red-zone target. His best statistical season in Green Bay came in 2021, when he played all 17 games and caught 23 of 28 targets for 214 yards. The season before, in 2020, Lewis hauled in three touchdowns as Rodgers made it a priority to find him near the goal line.
“Of course it’s special,” Lewis said right after scoring his first touchdown with the Packers back in 2019. “But I think it’s even more special because of the relationship me and 12 have.”
Why the Packers moved on
Lewis indicated last year that he would have considered a return to Green Bay and that coach Matt LaFleur would have been open to the idea. However, general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office preferred not to carry that veteran piece on the roster, viewing it as a potential obstacle to the development of younger players.
That tracks with the Packers’ general philosophy. Green Bay has long prioritized building through the draft and giving young talent room to grow, even when it means parting ways with popular veterans. Lewis ended up spending time with the Chicago Bears over two seasons and then the Denver Broncos last year, where he appeared in five games but didn’t register any receptions or yards.