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The four times corner of Pro Bowl, Xavien Howard, withdrew abruptly from the NFL on Wednesday after fighting in the first four games of the season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Team officials said Howard was placed on the reserve/retired list after practice on Wednesday. The team signed Trey Washington to take their place in the list of 53 men.
Howard issued a statement on his Instagram account.
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The corner of the Indianapolis Colts Xavien Howard (4) celebrates a turnover against the Miami Dolphins in Lucas Oil Stadium on September 7, 2025. (Grace Holgars/USA Today Network through IMAGN images)
“Throughout my career I have always played football for the love of sport. I enjoyed everything that came with being part of the NFL, it was my passion for the game that took me,” he said. “I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins to draw and give me the opportunity to play professional football. I can’t thank the Indianapolis Colts enough to let me continue living my dream, but my dream has now changed.
“I have been approaching God and asking him to lead my way. I am a man of faith and I believe with all my heart that does not make mistakes. He has led me to finish my career. Now I am putting God and my priorities first.”
He added that his “purpose has been fulfilled in this sport” and that caring for his children is the goal for him now.
The open receiver of the Los Angeles Rams, Puka Nacua (12), makes a capture in front of the corner of Indianapolis Colts, Xavien Howard (4) during the first room of a NFL football match on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sánchez)
Howard, 32, joined the Colts after missing the entire 2024 season. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Miami Dolphins. He had 11 cup and a loose ball recovery in the first four games, which included a 33-8 victory against his former team in week 1.
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However, he fought from that first game.
“I knew that a team was going to attack me at the beginning of the season. I’ve been out a minute, so I knew the boys wanted to see if I can still play and things like that,” Howard said after his game of week 2 against the Denver Broncos. “And only on this side, just assuming responsibility, I just have to do my job and work in my technique.”
In week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, Howard was part of a high school that allowed the open Tutu Atwell to score in a tauchdown capture of 88 yards. Puka Nacua had 13 trapped for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Howard’s best season came in 2020 when he was a professional bowling player for the second time in his career. It had 20 pass ruptures and 10 interceptions in 16 games.
The corner of the Miami Dolphins, Xavien Howard (25), looks against the Atlanta Falcons in the last quarter at the Hard Rock Stadium on August 11, 2023. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports)
He finished his career with 29 race interceptions, 342 cup and 95 pass ruptures.
