Former NFL defensive end Bryce Huff retired from professional football in March at the age of 27 to co-found a company addressing the fire risks posed by lithium-iron batteries. Huff, who played for the Jets, Eagles, and 49ers during his six-year career, stated that the decision to retire was made with his older brother, Jordan, and had been under consideration for a couple of years.
Huff and his brother have been developing their company, Naberstone, for over two years. He expressed optimism about the venture, telling The Athletic, "I feel like we’re going to save a lot of lives and protect a lot of companies." The company currently employs six people and has secured one significant client, with ongoing discussions for further deals involving entities such as the U.S. military, a major waste recycling company, and international groups in Europe and Asia.
The impetus for Naberstone stems from the growing prevalence of batteries in everyday devices, from vehicles to personal electronics. "Everything is slowly but surely containing batteries, from our cars to our tools to bikes, you name it," Huff explained. "The biggest risk with batteries is the way they ignite if they were to take on some type of damage or malfunction or short circuit. One cell in the battery combusts… and then it’s just like a chain reaction throughout the battery."
Huff, now 28, pursued mechanical engineering at Memphis before his NFL career. He noted that even during his time playing football, he and his brother maintained a keen interest in science and entrepreneurship. While he couldn't directly apply his engineering studies in the NFL, he feels his current work allows him to collaborate with engineers daily, fulfilling his passion.
Huff entered the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Jets, accumulating 17.5 sacks over four seasons. His most productive year was 2023, when he recorded a career-high 10 sacks under head coach Robert Saleh. He then signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 but experienced a less successful stint, managing only 2.5 sacks. Subsequently traded to the San Francisco 49ers in May 2025, Huff played one season with the team before announcing his retirement.