Chase Roullier is calling it a career.
The former Washington Commanders center said in a social media post that he has retired from football. The announcement comes months after the Commanders released Roullier, who had suffered season-ending injuries in each of the last two years.
In an Instagram post, Roullier said his injury history played a factor in his making his decision.
“It is a very difficult thing to say goodbye to something that has been a large part of my life for over two decades,” Roullier wrote, adding, “Two years ago, I would have never thought I’d be writing this right now. But in those two years, I have seen two major injuries, two invasive surgeries, two multi-mouth couch-ridden times, two rehabilitation marathons, two tall mental hurdles to climb and two of everything else in-between.
“These two years have also given me a lot of time to reflect and gain clarity on my priorities in life. This decision has not been an easy one, but after lots of prayer and processing I am confident that it is the right one.”
Before he got hurt, Roullier was a largely reliable player — one whose football intellect helped provide stability on the offensive line. The 29-year-old, too, had been one of Washington’s better draft selections in recent years as he was selected 199th overall in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. After emerging as a starter his rookie year, Roullier went on to sign a four-year, $40 million contract extension after the 2020 season.
But injuries changed Roullier’s career. In 2021, the Wyoming product suffered a broken left fibula that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Then the following fall, Roullier went down again in Week 2 — this time with a right knee injury that required another surgery. In total, he had managed to play just 10 games since signing his new deal. The Commanders released him to save $8.37 million.
The Commanders replaced Roullier this offseason by signing veteran Nick Gates from the New York Giants. The team also drafted Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg in the third to provide depth up the middle.
In his post, Roullier thanked his wife, Sarah, his family, former teammates and coaches for their support.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey and everyone who will support me in my next chapter,” Roullier said.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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