Raiders' WR Amari Cooper makes shocking retirement decision

The Las Vegas Raiders brought back a familiar face out of camp, signing former first-rounder Amari Cooper in hopes of sparking a late-career revival. After a forgettable stint with the Buffalo Bills last season, the veteran wideout seemed poised for a fresh chapter in silver and black. 

Instead, before Week 1 even kicks off, Cooper has decided to hang up his cleats, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

At 31, Amari Cooper closes the book on a decorated career that began in Oakland. Drafted fourth overall by the Raiders in 2015 out of Alabama, the Miami native spent a little over three seasons with the franchise before being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys midway through 2018.

Most recently, Cooper split time in 2024 between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, suiting up in 14 contests and tallying 44 receptions on 85 targets for 544 yards and four scores.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper leaves behind a résumé spanning a decade across four teams — the Raiders, Cowboys, Browns, and Bills — finishing with 711 catches, 10,033 receiving yards, and 64 touchdowns over 154 career games.

Jakobi Meyers has reportedly asked out of Las Vegas after contract extension talks with the Raiders hit a wall. News of his trade request surfaced just hours before the team brought back Amari Cooper — a reunion that has now fizzled with Cooper opting to retire. 

With Cooper stepping away, the urgency for the Raiders to mend fences and hold on to Meyers has only grown sharper.