Former Eagles 1st-Round Pick Announces Retirement In Philly After Being Waived

PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 19, 2025

In an emotional decision that closes a brief and challenging chapter, safety Lewis Cine, a former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday, following months of battling injuries and receiving no interest from other teams since being waived on August 24.

This decision marks a somber end to Cine's three-year professional career, which held promise but was repeatedly hindered by persistent injuries. Cine, selected 32nd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of Georgia, joined the Eagles in January from the Buffalo Bills' practice squad with hopes of bolstering the secondary. However, a preseason injury led to his release at the end of August and placement on the injured reserve list, and since then, no team has shown interest in signing him.

Cine played in just one game for the Eagles last season, a brief stint reflecting his total of 11 NFL appearances—three during his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings, seven the following year, and one with Buffalo in 2024. His highlight reel remains sparse: a spectacular diving interception in the Eagles' final preseason game last August briefly rekindled hope in the talent that once made him a prized prospect.

In a moving statement posted on social media and confirmed by his representatives, Cine shared: "Football has been everything to me, but after months of fighting injuries and the silence from other teams, I realize it’s time to step away. I’m grateful to the Vikings, Bills, and Eagles for the opportunities, as well as my family for always being by my side. I’ll miss the field, but I’m ready to move forward."

The waiver on August 24, reported on the NFL transaction wire, came after Cine was released with an injury designation and went unclaimed. The timing coincided with the Eagles' trade for quarterback Sam Howell from the Vikings, signaling a shift in roster priorities toward immediate contributors rather than long-term projects like Cine. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni briefly addressed the decision during a post-practice press conference: "Lewis is a talented kid who fought hard, but injuries held him back. We wish him all the best in his next chapter."

For Philadelphia, the move frees up salary cap space and roster spots as the team aims for a deep playoff run, with young safeties like Sydney Brown and Reed Blankenship emerging in the secondary. Cine’s brief stint with the Eagles—from January to August—joins the list of high-profile experiments under General Manager Howie Roseman that didn’t succeed.

Once hailed as a hard-hitting safety with elite closing speed from his Georgia days, where he helped anchor a national championship defense, Cine’s NFL journey has been defined more by "what-ifs" than "what-could-have-beens." A severe leg injury during his rookie preseason derailed his Vikings tenure, and subsequent stints with Buffalo and Philadelphia couldn’t reverse the trend.

Whether Cine pursues coaching, broadcasting, or a life beyond football remains uncertain, but his retirement at age 25 underscores the harsh reality of the NFL: talent alone isn’t enough when the body can’t keep up. In Philly, where fans cherish resilience above all, Cine’s story serves as an emotional reminder of the fragile line between promise and pain. This chapter has closed—but the echo of that interception will linger for a while.