Veteran wide receiver and running back Demetric Felton announced his retirement from the NFL. In January 2026, Felton signed as a wide receiver with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Months later, the sixth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns during the 2021 NFL Draft will be back again to where it started. 

The 27-year-old announced his retirement via Instagram on Tuesday, May 19. His four-year journey in the NFL saw him play for the most part with the Browns, while he also played with teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Chicago Bears, among others.

“I’m not retiring because I’m hurt. I’m not retiring because I don’t love this game. I’m retiring because I know there’s a football player out there who needs me,” announced Felton through his statement on Instagram. “I’m retiring from professional football to take a role in Player Development with the Cleveland Browns.”

Felton explained that his experience in the early playing days is what has inspired him to take up this new role.

He called this move “stepping deeper into the game” and not “stepping away”. 

The running back added that his mission now is to fix the lack of player support, as every player deserves to have a positive and well-supported experience during their NFL career. 

“I was handed a 400-page playbook and a bunch of responsibilities," said Felton, recalling his initial days when he had no proper guidance. "With no true investment in my development as a player. I figured it out on my own, and somewhere along the way, I realized that shouldn’t be the standard.”

Per Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland, Felton's new role will see him be responsible for providing support to players on and off the field. As the Browns’ offense now is full of young talent, the former Browns running back will provide insights and mentorship to players in need. 

Felton’s biggest impact may come off the field, where he can help develop leaders within the Browns locker room and strengthen the culture he embraced during his two years in Cleveland.

Demetric Felton’s NFL Journey and Career Highlights

Felton’s NFL journey saw him move between several franchises. He spent 2021-2022 with the Browns, and then he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad the next season. In 2024, he was with the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. 

The final stretch of his NFL journey came in 2025 when he was with the Washington Commanders for the summer but was released before the season began.

Justice reported that Felton’s rookie year in 2021 saw him play 16 games, of which he was a starter in two. A major part of his success was due to his passing game, having caught 18 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Felton’s return game is where he shone the most, taking back 32 punts for 227 yards and nine kick returns for 172 yards. Felton’s numbers and performance during his rookie year earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team. 

His experience on the field has helped him transition smoothly into a coaching role as the Browns count on him to turn their young players into future NFL stars.

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar