Is Sterling Shepard retiring? Exploring Giants wide receiver’s status after end of regular season

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard walked off the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday for the final time. His contract is up at the end of the season, and a return to the team as a player isn't reportedly on the cards.

Shepard was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft and is the longest-tenured player on the roster. So, is retirement next for Shepard? He told reporters that he has nothing but gratitude for his eight-year career.

"I think this point in time comes for everybody at some point throughout their career," Shepard said. "I just look at how blessed I’ve been to be in the same spot for eight years, it’s been a blessing."

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Shepard also said that while he is open to possibly retiring from the NFL, he must discuss his options with his family first.

“That’s stuff that I’ve got to talk over with my family, you know," Shepard said. "Get back to my loved ones and see how they feel, too. It’s not all just based off of my decisions, I’ve got to do what’s best for my kids and where I’m at."

Sterling Shepard, 30, has also noted that New York Giants owner John Mara has expressed interest in hiring him for a position in the front office. At this time, Shepard is unsure if he's interested in that or something else.

Shepard played 90 games in his eight NFL seasons. He had 372 receptions for 4.095 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Sterling Shepard career earnings

After playing collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, Sterling Shepard began his NFL career with the New York Giants in 2016. As a second-round draft pick, he signed a four-year contract worth $5.9 million, which equaled out to $1.48 million each season.

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In 2019, the Giants signed him to a contract extension, another four-year deal worth $41 million. This contract included a $10 million signing bonus and $21.26 million in guaranteed money.

During his eight seasons in New York, Shepard earned about $32.64 million.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

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Edited by R. Elahi