Kiko Alonso retires days after signing with Saints

Dec 22, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Kiko Alonso (50) on the bench against the Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

LB Kiko Alonso announces retirement days after signing with Saints

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 8/6/22

After sitting out the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons, linebacker Kiko Alonso signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.

Two days later, Alonso has reportedly decided to end his comeback and hang up the cleats for good, according to WWL-TV's Brooke Kirchhofer.

Kiko Alonso has retired, per source.

The #Saints brought him in for one training camp practice, after playing the 2019 season in New Orleans. He’s decided to hang it up after 6 seasons in the #NFL @WWLTV
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) August 6, 2022

ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports that Alonso is physically fine and simply changed his mind about returning to play.

I'm told Alonso's retirement wasn't anything medical. He honestly just changed his mind. Football is a huge commitment and it's hard to do without being 100 percent in, especially after being away so long. Same thing with Patrick Robinson last year when he realized he was done.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) August 6, 2022

Alonso last appeared in an NFL game back in 2019, when he played 13 games for the Saints. He started the 2020 season on the PUP list before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, who cut him just a few weeks later.

Alonso was a second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills out of Oregon in the 2013 NFL draft.

In his first season with the Bills, Alonso finished with career highs in tackles (159), interceptions (four) and sacks (2.0) while being named to the 2013 NFL All-Rookie team.

After missing the 2014 season with a torn ACL, Alonso was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2015 season. He'd spend just one season in Philly before being dealt to the Miami Dolphins, where he played from 2016 to 2018 before joining the Saints.

In 86 career NFL games for the Bills, Eagles, Dolphins and Saints, Alonso posted 588 tackles, 10 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and three sacks.

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