Former UCLA and Green Bay Packers running back Johnathan Franklin announced his retirement from football Thursday.
Franklin suffered a neck injury in Week 12 of the 2013-14 NFL season that initially ruled him out for the remainder of the season. The injury was later re-evaluated as one that will keep him from returning to the sport.
“Unfortunately this week I have been ruled out of returning for the 2014-15 season and returning to play in the NFL,” Franklin said in an announcement via Twitter. “I understand God knows what he is doing and for now he has another platform for me to step upon.”
After being selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft by Green Bay as the 125th overall pick, Franklin played in 11 games for the Packers in his rookie season.
His most notable game as a Packer was in Week 3, when he filled in for an injured Eddie Lacy and rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a Bruin, Franklin had a standout year as a redshirt senior, rushing for a total of 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Franklin accumulated a total of 4,369 yards in his four years playing for UCLA, which was enough to propel the running back, affectionately known to Bruin fans as “The Mayor,” to the top of UCLA’s all-time career rushing yards list, eclipsing the previous record of 3,884 yards set by Gaston Green in 1987.
Compiled by Aubrey Yeo, Bruin Sports senior staff.
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