Wide receiver Eugene T.Y. Hilton’s career has come to an end 14 years after he was drafted. But he might not have received the reactions he was hoping for.

“After an incredible journey, it’s time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter,” he posted. To which one fan simply replied: “Weren’t you already retired?”

Hilton was drafted in 2012 by the Indianapolis Colts, and he appeared in 10 seasons with the team. He played in 146 games and made 638 receptions out of 1,086 targets. His career-best season was 2016, when Hilton made 91 receptions for 1,448 yards. He scored six touchdowns that year. 

Cowboys fans were especially disappointed given his underwhelming performance in 2022. In his first and only season with the NFC franchise, Hilton played in three games, made seven receptions out of 10 targets for 121 yards. 

The Cowboys star last appeared in the NFC divisional playoff against the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. That was Hilton’s 11th active season in the NFL, after which he did not play in a single game. 

After Hilton announced his decision in an X post on Thursday, some fans were left confused because they thought he was already retired.

That's Why The Post Got a Lot of Backlash

“Thought he retired 5 years ago lol…. But I know like Allen Robinson isn’t even officially retired yet,” the reply read. 

Not all players make a formal retirement announcement. The NFLPA website says that to be officially considered retired, the player must be without a contract for a year after their last contract ends. That's why Hilton may not have announced his retirement. That's why another fan added, “You haven’t seen the field since 2022 l*** what are you retiring from?”

There was another perspective to the retirement. “Retiring? Or just running away from the real pressure? Fans deserve honesty, don’t sugarcoat it with gratitude posts. Football isn’t forever, but accountability is,” the comment asked. 

That's because back in 2022, Hilton completed 121 receiving yards in 3 games, but none of them resulted in a touchdown. However, one fan joked about the announcement.

One fan claimed that Hilton, who did not play for four years, was hoping to see Andrew Luck’s return to the field. “Bro waited 4 years to see if Andrew Luck would ever return.” 

For context, Luck and Hilton made some of the best quarterback-wide receiver plays for the Colts. Like the massive 68-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans, and over 1000 yards in four consecutive seasons. That was until injuries caught up with them. 

Luck and Hilton were not just teammates but the best of friends off the field, too. Hilton was one of the first people to know about Luck’s retirement, and the two remain strong despite their career trajectories.  

The fan's comment highlights the importance of the Colts to Hilton's career. After all, he did sign off by calling himself a “Colt forever.”

Although Hilton has not commented on his absence, his career is now officially over. As fans have expressed their feelings and tell us your thoughts in the comments. 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar