Five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper to Retire One Week After Raiders Reunion
Lead: On September 4, 2025, NFL Network insiders reported that Amari Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, told the Las Vegas Raiders he no longer has the desire to play and intends to retire one week after re-signing with the team, closing a 10-season career that totals 711 receptions, 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Key Takeaways
- Reporters Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network first reported Cooper’s decision to retire.
- Cooper signed with the Raiders a little over a week before announcing his intention to retire, marking a short reunion with the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2015.
- The 31-year-old struggled to reach game readiness in the week leading up to the Raiders’ regular-season opener vs. the New England Patriots.
- Across 10 NFL seasons Cooper recorded 711 receptions, 10,033 receiving yards and 64 touchdowns, with seven 1,000-yard seasons and five Pro Bowl selections.
- Career team splits include Oakland (225 receptions, 3,183 yards, 19 TDs in 52 games) and Dallas (292 receptions, 3,893 yards, 27 TDs in 56 games), with later stints in Cleveland and Buffalo.
- Cooper’s production dipped in 2024, and he was traded from the Browns to the Buffalo Bills last October, where his on-field role diminished over the season.
Verified Facts
Amari Cooper was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the then-Oakland Raiders. He spent the early part of his career in Oakland before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. Cooper earned five Pro Bowl selections and had seven seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards through his first nine seasons.
Stat line preserved from his career: 711 receptions, 10,033 yards and 64 receiving touchdowns over 10 NFL seasons. With Oakland he totaled 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns across 52 games; with the Dallas Cowboys he recorded 292 catches for 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns in 56 games.
| Team | Catches | Yards | TDs | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (early) | 225 | 3,183 | 19 | 52 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 292 | 3,893 | 27 | 56 |
| Career Total | 711 | 10,033 | 64 | 10 seasons |
Reporting indicates Cooper signed with Las Vegas a little over a week before this announcement and that he had difficulty ramping up toward game readiness as the Raiders prepared for their Week 1 game versus the New England Patriots.
Context & Impact
Cooper’s abrupt decision arrives days before the Raiders’ regular-season opener, forcing an immediate re-evaluation of the receiving depth chart and game plan. Las Vegas had added Cooper as a veteran option; his retirement creates an opening for younger receivers or a potential short-term signing.
For Cooper, the move ends a decade-long career that began with high expectations and included multiple elite seasons. His decline in on-field reliability during 2024—with a trade from Cleveland to Buffalo and a reduced role in Buffalo—likely influenced the timing of this decision.
Immediate team implications include roster and special-teams adjustments, possible payroll accounting actions (retired list placement or contractual settlements), and short-term practice-squad promotions or free-agent scouting.
- Raiders: Need to adjust receiver rotation and special-teams assignments before Week 1.
- Market: Veteran receiver options could see renewed interest if Las Vegas or other teams pursue depth additions.
- Legacy: Cooper departs as one of the more productive receivers of his draft class, with over 10,000 career yards.
Official Statements
Cooper informed the team that he no longer has the desire to play and intends to retire.
NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo
Unconfirmed
- The specific personal or medical reasons behind Cooper’s decision have not been publicly confirmed.
- Whether the Raiders will formally place Cooper on the reserve/retired list or announce contract-related details remains unreported.
- Any long-term plans Cooper may have after retirement (coaching, broadcasting, business) are unreported.
Bottom Line
Amari Cooper’s retirement closes a notable NFL career; the timing, a week after a brief Raiders reunion, creates immediate roster questions for Las Vegas ahead of Week 1. Expect short-term roster moves from the Raiders and continued reflection on Cooper’s place among the top receivers of his era.