Charlotte, NC – May 9, 2025 – A former Buffalo Bills wide receiver has called it quits. Days after a sudden release from the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, the veteran announced his retirement, ending a 10-year NFL odyssey marked by unfulfilled promise.
Jordan Matthews, acquired by Buffalo in a 2017 trade, was cut Thursday, per The Athletic’s Joe Person. The move dashed his hopes of reviving his career as a tight end. “Time to move on,” he wrote on X, saluting fans.
Matthews arrived in Buffalo with hype, traded from the Philadelphia Eagles for Ronald Darby. His 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame flashed potential with Philly: 67 catches, 872 yards, 8 touchdowns in 2014, and 85 receptions, 997 yards in 2015. But in Buffalo, he flopped, managing 25 catches for 282 yards in 10 games before an injury.
The Bills’ Super Bowl LII miss in 2017 underscored Matthews’ struggles. Released in 2018, he bounced to the New England Patriots (cut in preseason), Eagles (2018-2019), and San Francisco 49ers (2021-2022). His last catch came in 2019 with Philly.
In Carolina, Matthews switched to tight end, but appeared in just 5 games over two seasons, logging no catches or targets. His practice squad role ended with Thursday’s cut, sealing his fate.
“I gave my all,” Matthews told The Buffalo News. “Buffalo taught me resilience.” Bills Mafia on X reminisced, one fan posting, “Wish he’d panned out here!” His 282 yards with Buffalo pale beside his 2,704 yards as an Eagle.
Eagles stars A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert honored Matthews. “He fought hard,” Brown said. The Philly Special Era owes a nod to his early spark, even as Zach Ertz’s Commanders challenge Philly’s reign.
Matthews retires as the Eagles eye Super Bowl LX, fueled by Saquon Barkley’s 2,005 yards and Jalen Hurts’ grit. His journey, though a Bills bust, leaves a Philly legacy.
