Shockwaves in the NFL: Jaire Alexander Abruptly Quits Football After Just One Game with Eagles—What’s Really Behind the Sudden Exit?

Jaire Alexander, a cornerback whose name once echoed through stadiums as a beacon of defensive prowess, is hitting the brakes on his football journey — and not by choice of circumstance but by necessity. At just 28, Alexander has informed the Philadelphia Eagles that he’s stepping away from the gridiron, seeking to recharge both mind and body before charting the next chapter in his career . It’s a decision loaded with mixed emotions — hope, frustration, and the weight of an injury-plagued run that, until recently, promised so much more. After just days of joining the Eagles following a trade from Baltimore, where he struggled to stay on the field, Alexander’s pause challenges us to rethink the toll pro football exacts and the resilience it demands. His story is far from over, but right now, the focus shifts from the spectacle under the lights to the quiet work of healing. LEARN MORE

Cornerback Jaire Alexander told the Philadelphia Eagles Tuesday that he’s stepping away from football to reset physically and mentally before deciding on his future, according to multiple reports.

Alexander, 28, wasn’t active during the Eagles’ “Monday Night Football” win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, where the Louisville product called home the first seven seasons of his NFL career.

In an effort to bolster its secondary, Philadelphia gave up a 2026 sixth-round pick in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 1 in exchange for Alexander and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

Alexander, who was born in Philadelphia, indicated to reporters in the Eagles’ locker room last week that he was healthier than he had been since his offseason knee surgery, however, he didn’t make the trip to Green Bay. He was expected to compete for snaps at the Eagles’ second outside corner position, opposite of Quinyon Mitchell. Adoree’ Jackson started there Monday night, with Cooper DeJean remaining inside at nickel.

Jakorian Bennett is set to return from injured reserve this week. Kelee Ringo has started two games this season and is another option at that spot, which has been a weak link for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit in 2025.

While the Eagles also traded with the New York Jets for cornerback Michael Carter II before the deadline, he’s mostly played in the slot throughout his five-season NFL career.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 13: Cornerback Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers gets set during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, at Lambeau Field on October 13, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images) — GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 13: Cornerback Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers gets set during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, at Lambeau Field on October 13, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

(Todd Rosenberg via Getty Images)

As for Alexander, he signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Ravens in June. At the time, it was reported he could earn up to $2 million more in incentives, but his reunion with college teammate Lamar Jackson didn’t go according to plan. Alexander played in only two games for Baltimore this season, allowing a combined five receptions for 116 yards, according to PFF. He scattered 61 defensive snaps across Week 1 and Week 5 defeats, both of which saw the Ravens give up more than 40 points.

Although Alexander was a healthy scratch five times with Baltimore, injuries were his issue at the tail end of his Packers tenure, which notably included All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons in both 2020 and 2022.

Green Bay released Alexander on June 9. The Packers gave him his start in the league, taking him with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft.

When Alexander was healthy and on his A game, he was regarded as one of the top corners in the NFL. Injuries got in the way. He entered the 2025 campaign having played 16-plus games in just one of the previous four seasons.

In 2021, a shoulder injury limited him to four appearances. In 2023, he played in just seven games because of back and shoulder issues. It was more of the same in 2024, with Alexander taking the field in only seven games due to a knee problem.

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Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million extension with the Packers in 2022. That deal set him up to make more than $16 million in 2025. Green Bay reportedly offered him a restructured deal in May, one that would have resulted in a pay cut, but that never got done, and the Packers ended up releasing Alexander.

He struggled in Baltimore and then found himself stowed away on the depth chart. Philadelphia emerged as a place he could see the field again this season.

But now Alexander is hitting pause on his NFL career, just 10 days after the Eagles traded for him.