Hayden Hurst, former South Carolina TE, retires after 7 NFL seasons
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Former South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst is calling it a career after 7 seasons in the NFL. Hurst played for 5 teams across that span after being drafted late in the first round by John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens.
Hurst, 32, announced his retirement on Monday:
“It is a blessing how far sports took me in this life,” Hurst wrote on Instagram. “When I was stuck in a dorm room at 18 years old in Pirate City, thinking my sports career was over, I never thought I’d turn it into a 7 year NFL career but l put my head down and worked. I was determined to make football work after baseball failed me, and I never let anyone tell me I couldn’t do anything.”
Hurst put together a solid career as a journeyman. He saw most of his success come in Atlanta, where he accumulated just under 800 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns across 2 seasons. Hurst also played in a Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengal in 2022, but fell just short at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before his time in the NFL, Hurst put together a few great seasons at South Carolina. He totaled over 500 yards receiving across both of his final 2 seasons in Columbia with 3 touchdown receptions.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
