Zach Orr was one of the bright, young pieces on the Baltimore Ravens defense, but elected to retire after only three seasons in the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Ravens linebacker Zach Orr retires at age 24 due to neck injury
Zach Orr had a breakout year in 2016, but is choosing his health over a longer career.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Orr, 24, joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and worked his way into the Baltimore lineup, eventually becoming a starter for the team in 2016. He had a breakout year as a weakside linebacker for the Ravens, finishing the season with Second-Team All-Pro honors after recording three interceptions, one forced fumble, and leading the team in tackles with 130.
He missed the last game of the season and was placed on injured reserve with what the team called a neck injury:
The injury was evidently serious enough for Orr to decide to end his NFL career, despite the Ravens’ attempts to convince him otherwise, according to Rapoport.
Orr was scheduled to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but the Ravens were already making it a priority to re-sign the young linebacker and had made “considerable progress” on a new contract. Instead, the Ravens defense will have to move on without Orr.
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