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Shane Lemieux, an NFL offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year, announced he is retiring.
Lemieux, a fifth-round pick by the New York Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft, shared the surprising life update on his LinkedIn page on Tuesday. The 28-year-old pointed to the five surgeries he underwent during his playing career as the driving force behind his decision.
New York Giants guard Shane Lemieux (66) during the Blue-White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images (Images by Vincent Carchietta-Imagn)
“After graduating from the University of Oregon and being drafted by the New York Giants, I dreamed of a 10+ year All-Pro career,” Lemieux wrote. “I thought I could get there. But after 5 surgeries and more time in the gym than on the field, the game started to look different for me. That’s why I decided to walk away with the health I have.
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“Although I didn’t achieve that goal, the lessons I learned through injuries, releases and ultimately returning to the field mean more to me in the future than any accolade I could ever have. And the relationships built along the way have been the most impactful of all.”
New York Giants offensive guard Shane Lemieux (66) watches in action during a game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants on September 20, 2020 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lemieux spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants and started nine games during his rookie campaign.
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In 2021, Lemieux underwent season-ending surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee. The following year, he injured his toe during the preseason and was eventually placed on season-long injured reserve in December. In 2023, Lemieux tore his biceps during practice in October and managed to play in just 27 snaps during the season.
Shane Lemieux #66 of the New Orleans Saints looks on from the sideline against the San Francisco 49ers during the second of a preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 18, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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After a brief stint with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and 2025, Lemieux signed a deal with Seattle in September 2025 to join the Seahawks’ practice squad. He didn’t play in any Seahawks games a season ago.
It’s unclear what’s next for Lemieux, who will turn 29 in May, but the former first-team All-American signed his retirement announcement with a motivational message.
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“I am grateful for the game. I have dedicated my life to football and it has rewarded me immensely,” Lemieux wrote. “But I’ve always seen myself as more than just a football player and I’m ready to show that to the world.”
