The explosive rise and sudden retirement of an NFL first-round talent
In short: In 2018, Rashaad Penny entered the NFL as a highly touted first-round pick. From record-breaking college seasons to leading the league in yards per attempt, his career was a rollercoaster of breakout performances and devastating injuries that ultimately led to an unexpected retirement.
RashaHD Penny’s ascent began with a dominant collegiate career at San Diego State University between 2014 and 2017. He achieved a historic 2017 campaign, topping the Division I FBS rushing totals with 2,248 yards and securing the Mountain West Conference Male Athlete of the Year title. His knack for scoring was just as impressive, holding a share of the NCAA Division I record for kickoff return touchdowns with seven.
Selected 27th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 NFL draft, Penny signed a four-year, $10.7 million contract. While his rookie season showed promise, his professional trajectory was frequently interrupted by significant physical setbacks. In 2019, a torn ACL ended his season after just ten games. He faced further adversity in 2020 when he spent much of the season on the physically unable to perform list, and again in 2022 when a broken fibula ended his campaign.
Despite these hurdles, Penny demonstrated elite efficiency. Across various statistics, his 2021 performance reached new peaks, featuring 749 rushing yards and six scores, while his 6.3 yards per carry topped the NFL for qualified runners. After a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he was part of a running back committee, Penny signed with the Carolina Panthers in May 2024. However, his professional playing career concluded shortly after when he was placed on the reserve/retired list in July 2024.
Following his departure from the NFL, Penny transitioned into coaching. A fresh start began for the ex-star when he took over as Long Beach Jordan High School's head football coach in May 2026.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rashaad Penny
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-rashaad-penny.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
