Michael Gallup’s initial NFL retirement lasted longer than Tom Brady’s first, but it still didn’t last very long.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, less than eight months after announcing his retirement from football at the age of 28, Michael Gallup has unretired and will attempt an NFL comeback.
Gallup signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last April before abruptly retiring on July 23. The Raiders released Gallup from the reserved/retired list to let him test free agency, per Rapoport.
The 6-foot-1 wideout was a third-round pick (81st overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. He had his best season with the Cowboys in 2019, racking up 66 catches for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns as the No. 2 receiver to Amari Cooper.
Former #Cowboys WR Michael Gallup, who abruptly retired last offseason, intends to make a comeback, per his agent Kevin Robinson.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2025
The #Raiders released him from the reserve/retired list today for that reason. He’s still just 29. pic.twitter.com/6Kf2T38x54
Despite the arrival of rookie wideout CeeDee Lamb, and despite Dak Prescott missing most of 2020, Gallup looked like a star with a 59-843-5 stat line, helping Dallas form a dynamic receiving trio with Cooper.
Michael Gallup Unexpectedly Regressed After 2020
Gallup was never able to perform like the budding star we saw in 2019 and 2021. Over the next three years (2021 to 2023) he was held to under 500 receiving yards each year and only totaled eight touchdown receptions.
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The Cowboys released Gallup in a cap-saving move last year before he signed with the Raiders. We’ll see if he generates any significant interest in free agency, and if he can have a career revival ahead of his age-29 season.
