Don’t expect to see former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles back in the NFL anytime soon. While making an appearance on the latest episode of “Pardon My Take” podcast, Bortles revealed that he “quietly” retired from professional football.
At one point during the podcast, Bortles was asked whether he is maintaining good shape in case he gets a call from an NFL team. The 30-year-old proceeded to give an unexpected answer.
I didn’t tell anybody, I retired,” Bortles responded. “I guess you guys are kind of the first to hear it publicly.”
Blake Bortles entered the NFL in 2014 as a third-overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. While his career with the Jags was marked by inconsistencies, Bortles is credited for returning Jacksonville to the playoffs in 2017 after a nine-year drought. The Jaguars reached the AFC Championship that year before being eliminated by the New England Patriots in a close game.
After another shaky outing in 2018, the Jags released Bortles and replaced him with Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles. Since then, Bortles went on to have stints as a backup with the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints. However, he didn’t attempt a single pass in an official NFL game since 2019.
Bortles is retiring, having thrown for 17,649 passing yards, 103 passing touchdowns, and 75 interceptions during his NFL career. He still holds several Jags’ franchise records, including those for Most passing touchdowns in a season (35) and Most passing yards in a season (4,428).
