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A few months ago Michael Gallup was putting the finishing touches on a sixth season with the Dallas Cowboys and was heading into free agency, subsequently signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. But at the relatively young age of 28, the wide receiver is calling it a career.
On Tuesday, the Raiders placed Gallup on their reserve/retired list, signaling that Gallup has decided to retire. He retires with 266 receptions for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns plus another 286 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason – all with the Dallas Cowboys.
Gallup was a third-round pick out of Colorado State in the 2018 NFL Draft but quickly found himself getting a big role with the team as a rookie. He finished fourth on the team in receiving yards that season and would enjoy his first 1,000-yard season in 2019.
Between 2019 and 2020, Gallup totaled 1,950 yards and 11 touchdowns, cementing himself as a starter for the team. But injuries in 2021 and 2022 slowed his momentum with the team and he wound up falling down the depth chart.
In his six seasons with the Cowboys, Gallup never had fewer than 400 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a given year.
But Gallup’s success in Dallas only earned him a one-year deal with the Raiders at the end of April.
We might have to wait for Gallup himself to explain why he’s decided to call it a career right as he should be in the prime of his NFL years.
Related: Former Cowboys Wide Receiver Michael Gallup Signs With New Team