Falcons OT Kaleb McGary retires, team reportedly signing Jawaan Taylor

Field Level Media|published: Wed 8th April, 19:43 2026

Sep 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Kaleb McGary (76) leaves the field with an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Atlanta Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary, who missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury, announced his retirement on social media on Wednesday through his agent, Collin Roberts.

McGary, 31, had signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension in early August 2025 before sustaining a lower leg injury in practice and being placed on injured reserve.

He started 92 of the 93 games he played in six seasons after Atlanta selected him in the first round (31st overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington.

"I truly enjoyed my time playing alongside Kaleb," Falcons president of football Matt Ryan, who played quarterback as McGary's teammate in 2019-22, said in a statement. "He was an outstanding teammate and had a tremendous career as a Falcon. We are grateful for the impact he made on this organization, and we wish him nothing but the best in retirement."

The Falcons have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with right tackle Jawaan Taylor with an additional $1 million in incentives, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Taylor, 28, played the last three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, starting the 45 games that he played, including 12 in 2025. He was released last month.

Taylor has started all 111 of the games that he has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-22) and Chiefs.

Jacksonville picked Taylor in the second round (35th overall) of the 2019 draft out of Florida.

--Field Level Media

Latest