Ronald Darby is calling it a career.
The Texans cornerback has retired after 10 seasons in the NFL, per the league transaction wire.
Darby, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Houston on March 17, will never play a down for the team, but he did suit up for six others throughout his well-traveled NFL journey: the Bills, Eagles, Commanders, Broncos, Ravens and Jaguars.
He walks away at 31 years old with 447 career tackles, 106 passes defensed and eight interceptions in 118 games (107 starts).
Darby was selected No. 50 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by Buffalo and made an immediate impact. He started 15 games, nabbed two interceptions and logged what stands as a career-high 21 passes defensed to place second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
But he would only remain with the Bills for one more year, as the team traded him to Philadelphia ahead of the 2017 season.
The transaction worked wonders for both Darby and the Eagles, who went on to win Super Bowl LII. Darby started all three of Philly's playoff games, and his six defended passes during the postseason tied for the league lead.
His eventual three-year tenure with Philadelphia marks his longest time spent at any club.
Darby started 16 games for the Commanders in 2020 and combined for 16 starts as a Bronco from 2021-2022. He started seven of his 16 games played for the Ravens in 2023, and last year was a 12-game starter, with 13 appearances for the Jaguars.
His decision puts the Texans down a veteran corner, but Houston remains flush at the position. Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre have all proven themselves studs in quick order and will continue to lead an up-and-coming CB room.
Houston moves on with a little less depth, and Darby moves on to his next phase in life.
