Levi Wallace, aged 31, has announced his retirement from the NFL, concluding an eight-year career that began when he joined the league as an undrafted free agent from Alabama. Wallace shared his decision on Instagram, with a post that summed up his journey: “Walk-on. Undrafted. 8 years. Retired.”
Last season, Wallace was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he spent the year on injured reserve without playing in a game. His last game action was with the Denver Broncos in 2024.
Wallace’s career journey as an underdog began at Alabama. He walked onto the team in 2014 and spent two years on the scout team. His perseverance earned him a scholarship for the 2016 season, and by 2017, he became a key starter during Alabama’s National Championship-winning season.
Not bad.
During the 2017 season, Wallace recorded 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, and led the SEC with 15 pass breakups. He even returned one interception for a touchdown.
Despite his college success, Wallace was undrafted but seized an opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. He started in seven games during his rookie year and became a fixture in the Bills’ secondary. Over his four-year tenure with the team, he amassed 219 tackles and six interceptions.
After his time with the Bills, Wallace joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting 18 of 31 games over two seasons, he remained a key defensive player with six interceptions during his Steelers stint.
Wallace’s final professional season was with the Denver Broncos, where he started two of the 13 games he played, recording 28 tackles. In total, Wallace played 96 career games, achieving 333 tackles, 56 pass deflections, and 12 interceptions.
Levi Wallace’s career reflects determination and resilience, as his journey from being a walk-on at Alabama to a respected NFL cornerback highlights.