A key figure from the Atlanta Falcons’ 2016 Super Bowl series mentions that it stops.
Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel said on Instagram over the weekend that he is retiring from the NFL.
The diminutive entered the league in 2014 as an unknown free agent from Abilene Christian. He played two seasons each with the Cleveland Browns, Falcons and Chicago Bears in that order. He was cut by Chicago before the 2020 season and put off the year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Gabriel, now 30, broke out in his pros in his first season, reaching 36 receptions for 621 yards and a score from Brian Hoyer – and Johnny Manziel-Browns in 2014. The 5-foot-7 stud was the third leading receiver from Cleveland outside the gate, behind Andrew Hawkins and Miles Austin.
Just before the 2016 season, however, Cleveland relinquished Gabriel. The Falcons picked him up within a day of his release. Their offense, then coordinated by Kyle Shanahan, who coached Gabriel in 2014, needed a burner and got one.
Flanked by Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, Gabriel flickers with 579 yards on 35 catches, a career high of 16.5 yards per reception, and also adds a top seven overall TDs. Five of his receiving points were of at least 25 meters and two of more than 60 meters TDs. Gabriel’s offensive ability helped the Falcons become the number 1 attack in the league, and Matt Ryan, the fullback, won the MVP league.
During Atlanta’s Super Bowl run, Gabriel scored nine catches for 171 yards, including three for 76 in the Valcons’ devastating loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
Gabriel returned his super season in Atlanta in a one-year deal. In 2018, the broad contract signed a four-year, $ 26 million contract with the Chicago Bears.
The receiver reached career highs in receptions (67) and yards (688) in his first season in Chicago. Gabriel’s best career game took place the following year when he picked up three TDs from the first half of Mitchell Trubisky in a win over Washington. He missed almost half of the 2019 season with concussion.
In total, Gabriel leaves the sport with 228 receptions for 2,860 receptions and 15 total TDs in 83 games played.