Tarik Cohen, a former running back and return specialist for the Bears, informed his current team, the Jets, on Thursday that he was retiring from the NFL. Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the story first.

After a brief run on the Panthers practice squad, Cohen inked a contract with the Jets in May. Robert Saleh, the head coach, briefly expressed his joy about his May signing.

The Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh called him a “explosive playmaker.” “He’s beginning to regain his health.”

Following his ACL tear in Week 3 of the 2020 season, Cohen has not participated in any games. He has attempted multiple comebacks in the past, but has encountered many challenges and sustained more injuries in the process.

Cohen was cut by the Bears in March 2022. He tore his Achilles tendon while exercising on Instagram Live a few months later. Many believed Cohen’s career would end as a result of the accident, but in September of 2023, Cohen joined the Panthers practice squad after receiving the all-clear medically.

The Panthers cut Cohen earlier this month; he never appeared in a game for the organisation.

With the league’s new return policy intended to encourage returns while protecting players, the Jets seemed intrigued in Cohen’s abilities as a return specialist.

“We anticipate that they will touch the ball more than 100 times annually, which is a significant occurrence,” Saleh stated. We are thrilled to have a guy like him on board, even though he is still young and clearly recovering from his injuries.

In the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Cohen was chosen by the Bears. Cohen ran the ball 264 times for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns in 51 career games. It’s debatable if Cohen was a more successful receiver out of the backfield when using deeper wheel routes or fast curls and angle routes. He hauled in 1,575 yards and nine TDs on 209 passes received.

Given that Cohen was selected an All-Pro and Pro Bowl punt returner following the 2018 season, it should come as no surprise that the Jets view him as a dynamic returner as well. Cohen has returned 96 punts for 985 yards and one touchdown in his career.