Report: Seattle Seahawks LG Mike Iupati retiring from NFL after 11 seasons

Seattle Seahawks left guard Mike Iupati is retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons, he told The Spokesman-Review in a story published Sunday.

Iupati, 33, told The Spokesman-Review’s Peter Harriman that a chronic neck condition convinced him that it was time to walk away from football. The Seahawks’ starting left guard the past two seasons, Iupati missed six games in 2020 due to neck and back issues. He’d been set to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 17.

Iupati also told The Spokesman-Review that his goal had been to play 10 seasons in the NFL.

He played 11.

“My body was telling me it was time to close the door,” Iupati told The Spokesman-Review.

Iupati’s two years with the Seahawks concluded an 11-year NFL career, in which he was a four-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2012. He was a 2010 first-round pick of the 49ers, who he played the first five seasons of his career with (2010-14), before landing with the Arizona Cardinals (2015-18).

Iupati signed with Seattle as an unrestricted free agent in 2019. He started in 25 of 26 appearances with the Seahawks over two years.

Iupati’s retirement makes it seemingly more obvious for the Seahawks to find a young, potential cornerstone-caliber left guard for the future. The spot could be addressed in free agency, or be a priority in the upcoming draft.

Jordan Simmons, an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) this offseason, started the six games at left guard that Iupati missed this past season. He can only re-sign with the Seahawks if he’s tendered, per the rules of the ERFA designation. But there are questions about the depth at left guard beyond him. Reserve offensive linemen Jamarco Jones ended 2020 on Injured Reserve, and backup guard Phil Haynes has played just two regular-season games since being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.

The Seahawks found their right guard of the future last year in Damien Lewis, who started all 16 games for Seattle as a rookie.