Bills LB A.J. Klein Hinting at Retirement?

Buffalo Bills veteran linebacker A.J. Klein is returning for another stint in Orchard Park this season.

The Buffalo Bills defense has tons of elite names to keep tabs on headed into this season. Von Miller is returning from injury, Greg Rousseau is looking to take another step forward, and the veteran secondary - headlined by Tre'Davious White and Jordan Poyer - is aiming for a productive year after some injuries and inconsistencies last season.

But one of the defense's under-the-radar names is drawing some attention prior to training camp.

Bills veteran linebacker A.J. Klein, who signed a one-year deal in April to return to Buffalo for another season, recently admitted that "if this is the end" of his career, he wants to finish it with the Bills.

“This is the one place I knew I could come to and win the Super Bowl and be around quality people and quality teammates,” Klein told The Buffalo News. “If this is the end of my journey as far as football goes, I want it to be here in Buffalo.”

Klein was waived by the Bills in March 2022 in a cap-clearing move. He then began last season on the New York Giants practice squad before signing to the 53-man roster of the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 6.

But the Ravens traded him to the Chicago Bears 25 days after signing him. And a little over two weeks later, the Bears waived him.

Looking to find somewhere to settle, he returned to a familiar place in Buffalo one day after being cut by Chicago. After playing for the Bills during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the team signed him on for the rest of last season, as he recorded 11 total tackles in six games.

Klein will look to provide important depth and veteran experience on a defense that already has tons of it. He'll get ready for his 11th season in the league after being a fifth-round pick out of Iowa State in 2013.

But after that, it's unclear if Klein will remain with the Bills or hang up his cleats.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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