Corey Davis, wide receiver for the New York Jets, has announced his retirement from the sport Wednesday, Fox News reported. Davis had spent six seasons with the NFL and was in the last year of his contract with the Jets. 

Davis explained his reasons in a social media post announcing the move. "For some time now I’ve been contemplating stepping away from the sport of football," he began.

"This decision has not been easy. Although I am a deep person, I am a man of few words. I’ve been searching my heart for what to do and I feel that stepping away from the game is the best path for me at this time," Davis added.

"I have more blessings than I could have ever imagined – I have an amazing family, a beautiful wife and two healthy children that I look forward to spending more time with. I am truly grateful for all the opportunities I have had and will continue to have on my journey," Davis continued.

"Thank you to my family and friends and the Jets organization for supporting me through this process," the 28-year-old concluded. Davis is waking away from the Jets after receiving a $37.5 million deal.

He joined the team after spending four years with the Tennessee Titans. Davis was picked in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft following a solid college career with Western Michigan.

The Jets initially had high hopes for Davis and the new quarterback, Aaron Rogers, to propel the team to the playoffs after a dozen-year dry spell. However, those hopes didn't materialize for the team as Davis suffered several injuries in his first year that kept him benched for all but nine games.

Instead, Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson became Rogers' go-to man on the field early in training camp. The Jets added other seasoned receivers like Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and Mecole Hardman, who have edged Davis out.

However, Davis has faced challenges off the field as well. In Nov. 2020, he lost his brother Titus to kidney cancer, which at first served as motivation until the grief, coupled with several on-field injuries, began to weigh on him.

"I was just going through a little bit mentally," Davis to the press in 2022. "The past couple of years have been pretty rough, and I feel like I haven’t really had the time to kind of dissect everything," he said.

"I mean, I lost my brother and my homie, my best friend, and I never really had time to breathe after that happened. And I feel like this offseason was the first time I really, you know, kind of had the time to think about it and actually put him to rest," Davis added.