Former NFL wide receiver T.Y. Hilton announced his retirement on Wednesday at 36 years old. Hilton spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts and had not played in an NFL game since the 2022 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
His absence led plenty of people to assume he was done, but no formal announcement came until now. Hilton made it official through a post on X, where he thanked the Colts, the Cowboys, his teammates, fans, and his family.
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“After an incredible journey, It’s time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter,” Hilton wrote. “Thank you to Mr. Irsay, his family and the entire Colts organization for believing in a kid from Miami and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream wearing the horseshoe.”
“I also want to thank the Cowboys organization for giving me the opportunity to continue playing the game I love,” he added. “To my teammates – thank you for the brotherhood. The early mornings, long practices, and the battles on Sundays are memories l’ll carry with me forever.”
Hilton’s Dallas appearance marked the only time he wore a jersey other than Indianapolis blue during his NFL tenure. Over 10 seasons with the Colts, the speedy receiver known as “The Ghost” became a nightmare for opposing secondaries.
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He cleared 1,000 yards five different times, with a four-year stretch from 2013 to 2016 serving as his prime. The 2016 campaign was his finest work. 1,448 receiving yards led the entire league, and he earned Pro Bowl honors in four consecutive seasons from 2014 through 2017.
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Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton
When the dust settled, Hilton finished with 9,691 receiving yards in a Colts uniform, good for third in franchise history behind Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. His postseason résumé includes one of the wildest performances ever recorded.
Indianapolis selected Hilton 92nd overall in 2012 after a dominant college career at FIU, where he piled up 3,531 yards and 37 touchdowns. He became the program’s first football Hall of Fame inductee earlier this year.
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