Former Ravens 1st-Round Pick Hayden Hurst Retires After 8 NFL Seasons

The tight end played for 5 different teams over his 8-year career.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Hayden Hurst, a former first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 8 seasons. Hurst was selected 25th overall by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft and went on to play for 5 different teams during his career, including the Falcons, Bengals, Panthers, and Chargers.

Why it matters

Hurst was part of a recent lineage of talented tight ends to come through the Ravens organization, which has been known for developing the position. His retirement at age 32 marks the end of a solid NFL career that saw him catch 203 passes for 1,975 yards and 15 touchdowns over 88 games.

The details

Hurst spent the first two seasons of his career with the Ravens, catching 43 passes for 512 yards and 3 touchdowns. He then played two seasons with the Falcons, including a career-best 2020 campaign with 56 receptions for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns. Hurst also had stints with the Bengals, Panthers, and Chargers before deciding to retire.

  • Hurst was drafted 25th overall by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft.
  • He played the first two seasons of his career with the Ravens from 2018-2019.
  • Hurst spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Falcons.
  • He played for the Bengals in 2022, the Panthers in 2023, and the Chargers in 2024.
  • Hurst announced his retirement from the NFL on March 10, 2026 at the age of 32.

The players

Hayden Hurst

A former first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens who played 8 seasons in the NFL for 5 different teams, including the Falcons, Bengals, Panthers, and Chargers.

Baltimore Ravens

The NFL team that drafted Hayden Hurst 25th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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The takeaway

Hurst's retirement at a relatively young age of 32 highlights the short careers that many NFL players, especially at the tight end position, can have. His career saw him play for multiple teams and have some productive seasons, but ultimately he decided to step away from the game after 8 years in the league.