San Francisco 49ers legend Terrell Owens has revealed he was forced into early retirement from the NFL rather than leaving on his own terms. The Hall of Fame wide receiver, who played 15 seasons in the league, made the comments in a recent interview published November 4, 2026.
Owens, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro, ranks third all-time in NFL receiving yards with 15,934. He spent his first eight seasons with the 49ers before playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. His final NFL season came in 2010 with the Bengals at age 37.
The wide receiver's departure from the league followed a 2011 season where he went unsigned despite expressing willingness to continue playing. Owens was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
