27-Year-Old Wideout Harvin Retiring After 7 NFL Seasons
JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
Percy Harvin's tumultuous career has come to an abrupt end.
The 27-year-old wide receiver is retiring after seven NFL seasons, Harvin's agent, Joel Segal, confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday.
Harvin played five games for the Buffalo Bills last season before being placed on injured reserve with lingering hip and knee injuries.
Harvin's retirement decision was first reported by Pro Football Talk .
The Bills were Harvin's third team in two years after he was traded by the Seattle Seahawks to the New York Jets during the 2014 season.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Harvin in the first round in 2009 after he helped Florida win two national titles in three seasons. He was the AP offensive rookie of the year in 2009, finishing his first season with 60 receptions and eight touchdowns, two on kick returns.
Harvin was traded to Seattle in 2013 and immediately signed a six-year, $67 million contract extension. Prior to the 2013 season, Harvin had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, an injury that would linger for the rest of his career.
Harvin helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl in 2014 when he returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. But he only played in five regular-season games and had run-ins with teammates before being traded to the Jets the following season.
Buffalo signed Harvin to a three-year contract last spring, but injuries voided the final two years of the contract, making him a free agent.
The Bills also lost wide receiver Chris Hogan in free agency.
Harvin caught 19 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown in his final season.
A dynamic playmaker when healthy, Harvin's best season came in 2009 when he caught 87 passes for 967 yards for the Vikings. Harvin's production - and his reputation as a teammate - dwindled from there.
Harvin finished his career with 351 receptions, 4,936 yards of offense and 32 total touchdowns.
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