Saints' Ryan Ramczyk retires after 7 seasons -- 'Incredible journey' - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is retiring from the NFL, he announced on his Instagram account on Thursday night.

Ramczyk retires after playing seven seasons and earning NFL All-Pro honors three times from 2018-2020. He is the second of two former Saints All-Pro tackles to announce their retirement this year, with former Saints left tackle Terron Armstead announcing his retirement two weeks earlier.

«What an incredible journey it's been,» Ramczyk wrote on his Instagram account. «My path to the NFL wasn't a straight line, it wasn't the story most people expect. There were moments when people doubted me, moments when I doubted myself. It's funny how life works out. Sometimes the road less traveled leads to places you never expected, but it ends up being exactly where you were meant to be.»

A post shared by Ryan Ramczyk (@ryram_71)

The move comes one day after Ramczyk was announced as the Saints' guest picker in Green Bay for their Day 2 picks next week.

Ramczyk, 30, was the 32nd pick in the 2017 draft and the first selection of one of the most successful draft classes in franchise history. That Saints' class also included 2017 Rookies of the Year Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore, All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, safety Marcus Williams and linebacker Alex Anzalone.

Ramczyk's retirement has been on the horizon since the 2023 season due to a cartilage defect in his knee. Although Ramczyk did not miss a game due to injury in the first four seasons of his career, the knee became an issue during the 2021 season and he missed seven games that year.

Ramczyk was able to manage the knee issue in 2022 and did not miss a game that years, but the issues returned at the beginning of the 2023 season.