Just a few days ago, the Las Vegas Raiders learned the news that wide receiver Michael Gallup was unexpectedly retiring from the NFL. He was placed on the reserved/retired list by the Raiders prior to the start of the new season.
Read more: Former Cowboys, Raiders Receiver Suddenly Retires From NFL
Gallup signed with the Raiders on a one-year deal this offseason after spending the first six years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He was expected to help give the Las Vegas wide receiving room a boost but had a change of heart in terms of his playing career.
The decision by Gallup took many by surprise, including Raiders general manager Tom Telesco. The veteran front office staffer spoke about the shocking news about Gallup.
“I didn’t see that one coming at all,” Telesco said Thursday, via The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. “That just kind of came up out of the blue. When I talked to him, it seemed like he had a pretty clear vision. He’s ready to move on. It’s too bad.”
While with the Cowboys, Gallup made a name for himself. He was never a star in the offense but he did make life easier for Dallas at different times.
He was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cowboys and put together a strong rookie season. Gallup registered 33 catches for 507 yards, showing his worth early on.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
His real breakout came in 2019 when he posted 66 receptions for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns over 14 games. The former Colorado State product struggled to find consistency following his 2019 season, going in and out of the Cowboys’ offensive plans.
The team decided to not sign him back this offseason, leading him to land with the Raiders. Nobody expected Gallup to hang up his cleats right now as he is only 28 years old.
Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott weighed in on the retirement of Gallup, showing support for his former teammate.
“Hell of a receiver, but a better dude,” Prescott said, via the Cowboys team website’s Patrik Walker. “And he was huge for my career.”
He established a fairly strong connection with Prescott and it helped turn Gallup into a force on the offensive side of the ball, even for a short amount of time. Gallup finished his NFL career with 266 catches for 3,744 yards and 21 scores.
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