Ahkello Witherspoon, a cornerback who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Rams, has retired from the NFL at the age of 31. Witherspoon had signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders in May but will not play for the team this season.
The Commanders announced Tuesday that they had placed Witherspoon on the Reserve/Retired List and signed cornerback Fabian Moreau to fill his spot on the roster. Witherspoon practiced with the team on Monday and informed them of his retirement on Tuesday morning.
Witherspoon played college football at Colorado, where he recorded 71 tackles, three interceptions, and 27 passes defended in 37 games. He led Division I college football with 22 passes defended in his senior year. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
During his four seasons with the 49ers, Witherspoon played in 47 games, starting 33, and accumulated 117 tackles, four interceptions, and 24 passes defended. He returned one interception for a touchdown.
After his time with the 49ers, Witherspoon was traded to the Seattle Seahawks but was subsequently traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before playing a game for Seattle. He spent two seasons with the Steelers, appearing in 13 games and starting seven, recording 35 tackles and four interceptions.
He then signed three consecutive one-year contracts with the Los Angeles Rams. His most productive season came in his first year with the Rams, where he started all 17 games, recording 52 tackles and three interceptions.
In his NFL career, Witherspoon played in 96 games, starting 64, and registered 243 tackles, 13 interceptions, and 60 passes defended.