Ryan Ramczyk Retires: A Career Retrospective

New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk announces his retirement after seven seasons with the team, citing knee issues.

New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has announced his retirement from the NFL after a seven-year career with the team. He made the announcement on Thursday, expressing gratitude for the opportunities he's had in his career. Ramczyk was drafted 32nd overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and went on to become a key player for the Saints.

Throughout his career, Ramczyk started 101 regular-season games, 98 of which were at right tackle, and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019, along with two second-team selections. However, his final years were marred by knee issues, causing him to miss five games in 2023 and the entire 2024 season.

BREAKING: Saints All-Pro RT Ryan Ramczyk has announced his retirement from the NFL pic.twitter.com/IwO4wHr95f

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 18, 2025

Ramczyk reflected on his journey, saying, “What an incredible journey it's been. My path to the NFL wasn't a straight line... Today, I reflect on all the twists and turns that got me to this point, from technical college to become a 'welder' to All-Pro in the NFL.” He also expressed excitement about spending more time with his two boys and watching them grow.

In his retirement announcement, Ramczyk thanked the game of football and the coaches and teammates who supported him. He will stay involved with the Saints, announcing the team's second-day draft picks during the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Ryan Ramczyk has established himself as one of the NFL's top linemen, earning First Team All-Pro honors in 2019 and Second Team All-Pro recognition in 2018 and 2020. He was also ranked as the “Best Run Blocker” by Pro Football Focus (PFF) for two consecutive seasons (2018-2019).

Throughout his seven-year career, Ramczyk has been remarkably durable, playing in almost every game in five of those seasons. However, he did face some setbacks due to knee problems, which caused him to miss time in both 2021 and 2023. Despite these issues, Ramczyk has consistently demonstrated his value as a key player on the offensive line.