Retirement time has come for Beauceron tight end Antony Auclair, who worked in the NFL from 2017 to 2022.
• Read also: Back from a tryout with the Indianapolis Colts, Antony Auclair wants to return to the NFL if an opportunity arises
Sasha Ghavami, the 30-year-old’s agent, invited the media to a press conference Thursday at PEPS at Laval University, where Auclair played with the Rouge et Or from 2013 to 2016 before making his place in the Goodell circuit.
Auclair will comment on his decision during this meeting with local media.
“After a year away from the game, filled with introspection, inner searching and meaningful moments, I have made a decision that marks the end of an era for me. I have decided to retire from professional football.
“Retiring is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but as I begin this new journey, I do so with a heart full of gratitude for the experiences, friendships and incredible support of teammates and exceptional coaches that I have worked with,” wrote Auclair on his social networks.
A Super Bowl in Tampa
Auclair was first hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the spring of 2017 as a priority free agent following the draft.
It was with this team that he made his name and won the Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady, at the end of the 2020 season, his last with the team.
He then joined the Houston Texans, with whom he played his final season.
In 2022, he was released by the team after training camp. At that time he had to deal with a knee injury. The pride of Notre-Dame-des-Pins then reached an agreement with the Tennessee Titans to play on their reserve team, but three weeks later, he was released.
On October 23, Auclair attempted a comeback when he got a tryout with the Indianapolis Colts, but that tryout did not lead to a contract offer.
“It went really well. The Colts are banking on a new coaching staff, a young team and it’s great to see. It promises for the future. At the moment there is no injury and it is not a good time to sign me, but they have put my name on their list, in case something happens. Away from the game in 2022, I have demonstrated that I am healthy and in shape,” he confided to colleague Richard Boutin.
Since then, the tight end has lent a helping hand to the Rouge et Or coaching staff.
Auclair played 56 games in the NFL, including 40 in Tampa. He stood out above all with his blocking skills, in addition to catching 15 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
This touchdown occurred on October 10, 2021, against the New England Patriots, on an 11-yard pass in the end zone.