You could feel the weight in his words before the injury ever happened. Austin Ekeler, who began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers and is now the Washington Commanders’ running back, sat across from us during an EssentiallySports Exclusive Interview and admitted something most athletes never dare to say out loud: retirement had already crossed his mind.

When the host, Andrew Whitelaw, asked the 30-year-old about his future plans after he is done with his NFL career, Ekeler didn’t hesitate to look past the field. He spoke with the measured tone of a veteran who has already outlasted the odds. “Yeah, absolutely, you know, I have two years, so I’m in my second of my two-year deal out here, so looking forward to putting our best foot forward this year, making another run. We got a little bit of unfinished business,” he told us. The words carried weight because now, just a month later, his Achilles injury has ended that “unfinished business” before it even got off the ground.

While speaking to the EssentiallySports Exclusive, Austin Ekeler wasn’t hiding from the truth about where he stands in his career. “Once you get to year nine, I feel like you got to reevaluate your mental and your body health after every single season,” he explained. Laying bare the calculus every aging player faces. He admitted contracts shrink as the years pile up, and teams doubt durability.

And even the toughest players must ask themselves the hardest question: “Do I want to go another season?” For Ekeler, it’s no longer just about the grind. “I’m married now, and so there’s other factors that start to play into it,” he added. Hinting he may be investing in life beyond football full-time after his current contract is up.

That future may look a lot like his past: building something out of nothing. Ekeler rose from an undrafted player at Western Colorado in 2017 to become the Chargers’ “Pound for Pound” strongest man. A 5’8” wrecking ball who carved out more than 1,300 receiving yards by the end of 2019 season.

Now, he even sees his side project—the “charity draft” concept he’s been nurturing—as his next climb. “If it starts taking off, you know, am I ready to make a transition? Because we’re going to be doing leagues for basketball, baseball, hockey, things like that as well,” Ekeler revealed. It’s a glimpse into a player who’s been underestimated before and always answered by creating opportunity. But as he admitted, every season now is an evaluation, a mental and physical gut check. “As I get older, you know, it’s just a little bit more evaluation at the end of the year and we’ll decide if we want to go again.”

The timing now feels cruel because Ekeler faced a serious injury against the Packers. That could very well mark the end of his NFL story. The irony? Not long after finding a new home in Washington, his body made the decision for him. And yet, the Commanders’ front office believed they had struck gold.

In Week 18, he gave them hope—three rushing attempts for 12 yards. A sliver of the versatility that once made him one of the NFL’s most dangerous dual-threat backs. Coming back from a concussion against Dallas, he still looked like the spark this offense desperately needed heading into the wild-card matchup.

What was the grit behind Austin Ekeler’s marathon mentality?

When asked how he handles the rollercoaster of football—the highs, the lows, the endless competition—Austin Ekeler didn’t sugarcoat it. “Yeah. I think it’s a marathon unfortunately, but also it’s a race at the same time,” he told us in the EssentiallySports Exclusive. For him, the rookie years were a mad dash: “a sprint to get as much film and as much trust built into the coaches as possible.” But nine seasons later, the view has changed. Ekeler admitted he’s not the same 21-year-old guy that once burst onto the scene. But the good part is that he’s sharper now, quicker with his mind if not his feet.

“Maybe I’m not as fast as I used to be, but I’m a lot smarter. I understand the game a lot more, so it allows me to still be effective.” It was more than just words—it was a masterclass in survival, the way veterans stretch their prime long past what the body alone can carry. That perspective hit even harder in light of his latest Achilles injury as confirmed by MRI. That has now pulled him out of the 2025 season entirely.

After the diagnosis was confirmed, Ekeler spoke for his fans. “Thank you all for the love and well wishes. I appreciate you all,” he posted on Instagram Stories. Gratitude in the face of devastation—that’s the paradox of Austin Ekeler. This wasn’t just another setback; it was destiny cutting in line. And yet, even as fate has betrayed him, his tone has always carried the same endurance he’d described to us. Part sprint, part marathon, never quitting the race.

It’s almost poetic when you rewind his career arc. How he clawed his way into the Chargers’ roster. Recording nearly 1,000 receiving yards in 2019. And piling up 38 touchdowns in 2021 and 2022. But as they say, all that comes goes away. What was supposed to be a marathon is now paused mid-stride.

And that’s what makes this conversation so important. Austin Ekeler’s words take us into the human side of sport. That’s what we aim to capture in every EssentiallySports Exclusive Interview. You can be up to speed with all of it on our YouTube channel. So, stay tuned!