On Friday, Kenyan Drake announced he was retiring from the NFL after eight seasons in the league.
The running back had played for five different teams after he was originally a third-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2016.
Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins, a fellow Georgia native, took to Twitter to congratulate Drake on his pro career.
Georgia boy hell of career 😎 next chapter gone be even greater https://t.co/sQbYnzszXg
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) July 19, 2024
Drake played his college football not at the University of Georgia, but at the University of Alabama for the legendary Nick Saban, and even though he was mostly a backup, he finished his time there with 1,495 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 570 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
As a senior, he won a national championship with the Crimson Tide, and during that College Football Playoff National Championship Game, he fielded a kickoff and took it 95 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help his team defeat Clemson University by five points.
Drake spent his first three NFL seasons and change with the Dolphins, and although he was once again mostly a second-stringer, he made his mark on franchise history by converting a last-second, game-winning touchdown against the New England Patriots in what became known as the “Miracle in Miami.”
As a Dolphins fan, we’ll always Kenyan Drake to thank for the Miracle in Miami.
pic.com/jSISLWsgK0 https://t.co/to3K0BodIs
— Jordan Loupe (@CantALoupe_FF) July 19, 2024
In 2019, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the next one and a half seasons.
His best year came with them in 2020 when he ran for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Drake would make appearances with the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers over the next three years to wrap up his pro career.