One day after his defensive coordinator expressed unwavering belief in Xavien Howard, the veteran corner has decided to call it a career.
The Colts placed Howard, 32, on the reserve/retired list on Wednesday.
Not long after the transaction was announced, Howard released a statement via Instagram.
"Throughout my career I've always played football for the love of the sport," Howard wrote, in part. "I enjoyed everything that came with being part of the NFL, it was my passion for the game that drove me. I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the chance to play pro football. I cannot thank the Indianapolis Colts enough for letting me continue to live out my dream but my dream has now changed.
"I've been getting closer to God and asking that He directs my path. I am a man of faith and I believe wholeheartedly that He doesn't make mistakes. He has led me to ending my career. I am now putting God and my priorities first.
"When I was away from the game in 2024, I fell in love with taking my kids to school, doing activities with them and watching them grow up. Up to that point I had always put my family after football. I'm no longer willing to do so. So today I am retiring from the National Football League.
"My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football. I've had a hell of a career, and even though it's ending in a unique way, I'm cool with that because for once I'm putting my family first and I'm proud and excited about that decision."
Howard spent the vast majority of his career in Miami, earning four Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro honors (one first team, one second team) over eight seasons with the Dolphins before spending the entire 2024 season out of football. He returned to the NFL in 2025 with the Colts, joining Lou Anarumo's defense and working his way into a starting job.
In recent weeks, however, Howard's play became a problem for Indianapolis' defense. Opposing teams picked on the veteran, targeting him as the nearest defender 20 times and enjoying a completion percentage of 70 and a passer rating of 131.9 when throwing in his direction, per Next Gen Stats. On those targets, Howard surrendered receptions for a total of 183 yards and two touchdowns. His targeted EPA (expected points added) was the fifth-worst among all corners in the NFL at 14.3.
It was especially glaring in Indianapolis' close loss to Los Angeles on Sunday in which Matthew Stafford threw in Howard's direction 10 times, completing seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Although Anarumo claimed the Colts' issues didn't boil down to "just one guy," the Week 4 experience seemed to be enough for Howard to walk away from the game for good.
Howard retires with 104 career regular-season games played, 342 tackles, 95 passes defensed, 29 interceptions (including a league-best 10 in 2020), four forced fumbles and two sacks to his name. Indianapolis, meanwhile, will replace him with the likes of Mekhi Blackmon or Johnathan Edwards.
