Philly’s Nasir Adderley signs with the Colts three years after retiring from the NFL
Adderley played four seasons with the Chargers before retiring in March 2023. He announced last month that he wanted to give the NFL another try.
Philadelphia native Nasir Adderley is returning to the NFL three years after he walked away from the game at 25 years old.
Adderley signed a contract on Tuesday with the Indianapolis Colts, who will give the 28-year-old safety a chance in training camp to make their roster. Adderley played four seasons with the Chargers before retiring in March 2023. He announced last month that he wanted to give the NFL another try.
“The freedom to manage my own schedule was very important to me, but what I didn’t realize was how much I’d miss having football in my life,” Adderley posted on social media. “The competition, the brotherhood, and just being involved in the game that means so much to me and my family.”
» READ MORE: Philly’s Nasir Adderley walked away from the NFL and millions of dollars at 25. He has no regrets.
Adderley grew up in Mount Airy before moving as a teen to Malvern, where he attended Great Valley High School. He played four seasons at the University of Delaware and is a relative of Hall of Famer Herb Adderley, a star cornerback on Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay teams of the 1960s. Adderley said last year that his decision to leave football was rooted in wanting to spend more time at home. His daughter was born in 2020 and he felt conflicted when he left home that summer for training camp. He played out his four-year rookie contract with the Chargers, became a free agent, and did not entertain any offers. A day later, he retired. Adderley was finished.
He first started to work in real estate before becoming a personal trainer and nutrition coach. His new career was fulfilling, he said.
“People thought I was crazy for walking away so young into my career,” Adderley said last May. “I still to this day think about how much more I had to give, but my purpose just wouldn’t allow it. I understand that things change. Priorities change, and I’m very proud of my decision. I have absolutely no regrets and I’m so fortunate to live the life that I live now.”
Adderley is the third safety the Colts signed this offseason after losing two safeties in free agency. He was starting for the Chargers before he retired and proved three years ago to be an NFL-caliber player. He’ll have a shot to prove it again this summer.
