Former Charger Manti Te'o Reveals What's Next For Him After NFL Retirement

The once prominent defender is now focusing on bigger and better things

Former Los Angeles Chargers' 2013 second-round draft pick, Manti Te'o, has officially ended his time in the NFL. The 32-year-old announced to TMZ Sports that he has decided to move on from football and embark on a new chapter of his life, aiming to inspire others.

"I'm playing a different game now," Te'o told the Hollywood outlet. "I'm trying to empower people. Trying to inspire people. That's the game that I'm playing now, and I'm trying to be the best at that."

Te'o last played in the NFL in 2020 with the Chicago Bears. Throughout his career, he spent four seasons with the San Diego Chargers, playing in 62 games, starting in 48 of them. During his time with the Chargers, Te'o recorded 1.5 sacks, 307 combo tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and five QB hits.

Initially, Te'o appeared destined for greatness after an impressive college career at the University of Notre Dame. However, he faced unfortunate circumstances when he became entangled in an Internet scandal that tarnished his reputation, damaged his image, and affected his confidence both on and off the field.

Thankfully, those dark days are now behind Manti as he looks toward a brighter future. He is focused on uplifting others and helping them improve their lives. We are happy that Manti has found his purpose, and we wish him the very best in all his future endeavors.