Cleveland Browns Star Reportedly Expected To Retiring At Age 26

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The serious neck injury that Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered 16 months ago will, unfortunately, likely force him into early retirement.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered a neck injury in the Browns’ win over the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 27, 2024. He missed the remainder of the season and was sidelined for all of 2025.

But as Owusu-Koramoah continues his recovery, it appears as though he has already played his final snap in the NFL.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, it’s “doubtful” that the Browns’ fan favorite will play again:

“Owusu-Koramoah, who suffered a serious neck injury in a violent collision with Ravens running back Derrick Henry on Oct. 27, 2024, is doubtful at best to ever make it back to the playing field, a league source tells cleveland.com.

The Browns’ second-round pick in 2021 out of Notre Dame, Owusu-Koramoah sat out all of last season while recuperating from the injury, which involved a serious, visible compression of his neck.”

Owusu-Koramoah had a promising future in the NFL, but safety and health have to come first. Especially when it’s a concern as serious as a neck injury.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Was A Budding Star In Cleveland

The do-it-all linebacker was widely expected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. When he fell to the Browns in round two at No. 52 overall, it proved to be a massive steal for the franchise.

Owusu-Koramoah would play 49 games over his four NFL seasons. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023 after recording two interceptions, six pass breakups, 3.5 sacks and 101 combined tackles.

It’s unfortunate that he won’t be able to play with a star-studded defense led by Myles Garrett and 2025 rookie stalwarts Carson Schwesinger and Mason Graham. But again, safety comes first for a 26-year-old who still has his life ahead of him.