Did Xavien Howard Retire?

Xavien Howard (born July 4, 1993) is a former American professional football cornerback who retired from the NFL in October 2025. Born in Houston, Texas, Howard played college football at Baylor before being selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Dolphins, establishing himself as one of the league's premier cornerbacks with 29 career interceptions, 95 pass deflections, and 4 defensive touchdowns. Howard was a four-time Pro Bowler, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020, and led the NFL in interceptions twice (2018, 2020). Known for his ball-hawking skills and acrobatic interceptions, Howard is considered by many to be the greatest cornerback in Dolphins franchise history. After being released by Miami in 2024, he briefly returned with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 before retiring mid-season to focus on family. His career earnings totaled approximately $92 million, making him one of the highest-paid defensive backs in NFL history.