Veteran Jets RB-KR Tarik Cohen announced Thursday that he is retiring from football.
Cohen, a fourth-round pick (No. 119) in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Bears out of North Carolina A&T, signed a one-year contract with the Jets on May 29, 2024. He was attempting to resurrect a career that had been slowed by injuries the past three seasons — torn ACL/MCL in 2020, Achilles in 2022 and hamstring in 2023.
After reducing his weight from 208 pounds to 191 pounds this offseason, Cohen (5-6, 191) said earlier this week that he felt all the way back.
"That definitely crept into my mind, that you're never going to play again," he said. "That's why I just treat every day like it's a blessing, put my best foot forward and just remember the times I was at home watching everybody on TV."
Prior to the Jets, Cohen spent four seasons with Chicago from 2017-20 and racked up 4,286 all-purpose yards, 2,676 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns in 51 games (22 starts). In addition to averaging 4.2 yards per carry and totaling 209 receptions his first four seasons, Cohen also averaged 10.3 yards on 96 punt returns.
Cohen had his best season in 2018, totaling 1,169 all-purpose yards and 8 total touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro selections as returner, finishing second in punt return average (12.5). In one start against the Jets in Week 8, he recorded 110 all-purpose yards and a receiving touchdown.
