After five seasons in the NFL, former Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi is hanging up his cleats.
Adeniyi, who signed with the Titans in free agency in 2021 and appeared in 19 games for the team over two seasons, announced his retirement in a social media post on Wednesday night.
Prior to his stint in Tennessee, Adeniyi was an undrafted free-agent signing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018 and spent three seasons with the team and became a special teams standout in that span.
Here's what he said in his announcement on Instagram:
"Coming to America, football was never part of the plan. My dream was to become the next Ronaldinho—I know, it sounds funny now, but that was the goal. Then, a few fast food restaurants killed that dream, but they sparked a new one.
"Football has taken me places I never imagined. From earning a full-ride scholarship to playing multiple years in the league, I can walk this earth knowing I’m part of the 1%. The game has given me a foundation to tackle any obstacle life throws my way, and it has blessed me with some of the best relationships and brotherhoods a man could ask for.
"When I decided to leave school early and chase this new dream, I knew it would be an uphill battle. But I never wavered. I put my head down and worked, determined to reach a goal few ever achieve—playing double-digit years in the NFL.
"Today, I can finally say that journey is over. God has a way of showing you when it’s time to pivot and start anew. The 26-year-old me is grateful for what the 20-year-old me accomplished. Now, it’s time for a new chapter.
"I will forever be grateful to the game that changed not just my life, but my family’s as well. Thank you to the Pittsburgh Steelers for taking a chance on a young Nigerian kid, and to the Tennessee Titans for allowing that kid to grow and develop into a young man. I’m truly excited for what’s next.
"#92 out."
Born in Nigeria, Adeniyi moved to the United States when he was six years old and ended up starring at Toledo, finishing his final season with the Rockets with 8.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Adeniyi tallied a career-high 2.5 sacks with the Titans during his first season in Nashville but was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a neck injury. He was released by the Titans in December that year and almost reunited with the Steelers but failed his physical.
