Former Bengals 1st-round pick announces abrupt retirement
Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Detailed view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
A former Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick announced his retirement on Saturday due to a health issue.
Center Billy Price, a first-round pick in 2018, revealed Saturday that he underwent emergency pulmonary embolism surgery in April to remove a saddle clot that was entering both of his lungs. Price said he was retiring due to the significant risk of internal bleeding while taking blood thinners.
The 29-year-old said the diagnosis was a shock, as he had previously been healthy with no known issues and no clear explanation for the sudden problem.
Price was a standout center at Ohio State and was selected 21st overall by the Bengals in the 2018 draft. He also played for the Giants, Raiders, Cardinals, and Saints, and spent last season as a member of the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.
Price’s diagnosis sounds rather unsettling. Hopefully, he will be alright going forward, even if his football career is over.
