NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Shane Lemieux, an NFL offensive lineman who won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year, announced his retirement.
Lemieux, a fifth-round pick of the New York Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft, shared the surprising life update on his LinkedIn page on Tuesday. The 28-year-old pointed to the five surgeries he underwent during his playing career as the driving force behind his decision.
New York Giants guard Shane Lemieux (66) during the Blue-White scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
“After graduating from the University of Oregon and being drafted by the New York Giants, I dreamed of a 10+ year All-Pro career,” Lemieux wrote. “I believed I could do it. But after 5 surgeries and more time in the training room than on the field, the game started to feel different for me. That’s why I decided to leave with the health I have.
ELI MANNING QUICKLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DEBATE COMPARING EX-GIANTS STAR TO FALCONS GREAT MATT RYAN
“Even though I didn’t achieve that goal, the lessons I learned through injuries, releases and ultimately my return to the field mean more to me than any accolades. And the relationships made along the way have been the most impactful of all.”
New York Giants offensive guard Shane Lemieux (66) watches in action during a game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants on September 20, 2020, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lemieux spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Giants and started nine games during his rookie campaign.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
In 2021, Lemieux underwent season-ending surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee. The following year, he injured his toe during the preseason and was ultimately placed on injured reserve for the entire season in December. In 2023, Lemieux tore his bicep during practice in October and only managed to play 27 snaps during the season.
Shane Lemieux #66 of the New Orleans Saints watches from the sidelines as the San Francisco 49ers play in the second half of a preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 18, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2026 NFL DRAFT ODDS: DAVID BAILEY RETURNS AS NO. 2CHOICE, JEREMIYAH LOVE TO GIANTS
After a brief stint with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and 2025, Lemieux signed a deal with Seattle in September 2025 to join the Seahawks practice squad. He didn’t appear in a game with the Seahawks a season ago.
What happens next for Lemieux, who turns 29 in May, is unclear, but the former first-team All-American signed off his retirement announcement with a motivational message.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
“I am grateful for this match. I have dedicated my life to football and it has rewarded me immensely,” Lemieux wrote. “But I’ve always considered myself more than just a football player, and I’m ready to show that to the world.”
