The Atlanta Falcons are dealing with a sudden shake-up after veteran offensive tackle Kaleb McGary officially decided to call it a career.
The move comes as a surprise, especially after McGary signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension ahead of the 2025 season — a deal that was supposed to keep him in Atlanta through 2027.
But things didn’t go as planned.
McGary, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the No. 31 overall pick, had become a steady presence on the Falcons’ offensive line. Over six seasons, he started 92 games and was widely seen as a reliable protector in the trenches.
Then came the setback that changed everything.
A serious knee injury sidelined McGary for the entire 2025 season, and it appears that was the turning point behind his decision to walk away from the game.
While the retirement marks the end of a solid run in Atlanta, it does come with a silver lining for the franchise.
The Falcons are now expected to gain significant salary cap relief — roughly $14 million in both 2026 and 2027 — giving the team more flexibility as they look to rebuild and retool their roster.
It is still unclear if McGary will be asked to return his signing bonus, but it was only $3 million.
As things currently stand, McGary ends his career with nearly $46 million in earnings across seven years.