Seattle Seahawks center Connor Williams has retired from football aged 27, only 11 months after a devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season with the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins placed Williams on injured reserve in December 2023 as a result of the ACL tear the player suffered against the Tennessee Titans. He then joined the Seahawks in August on a one-year, $6 million contract.

Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the retirement Friday, saying that the player had “personal reasons” that did not relate to any issues from his knee injury, as ESPN reported.

Macdonald does not think there was any way Williams would come out of retirement. “We’re honoring his wishes,” the 37-year-old head coach said. “And we’ll keep all those reasons and conversations private for obvious reasons and wish him the best.”

Williams had been a mainstay in the Seahawks line-up as Seattle went 4-5 this season. Macdonald said he only learned this week that the player was considering leaving the sport. “It’s been a process throughout the week,” he said. Elaborating, he said there were parts of the conversation he’d “rather keep private … [because of] the things that he’s working through.”

Williams made his debut in 2018 when he joined the Dallas Cowboys and will therefore benefit from an NFL retirement plan, which becomes fully vested after three seasons. He played two seasons for the Dolphins before joining Seattle as a late free-agent addition. Prior to his pro career, he was a star at the University of Texas.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 24: Head Coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during an NFL preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field on August 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 24: Head Coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during an NFL preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field on August 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)

The retirement remains an abrupt one and arrives just days before a critical game against the San Francisco 49ers. Subsequent games include a November 24 date with the Arizona Cardinals, ahead of a December 1 trip to MetLife Stadium for the New York Jets.

Victory over the Niners is imperative if the franchise is to salvage its season, having won only one of their last six. They began the campaign on a hot streak with three wins in a row, beating the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Rams.

Olu Oluwatimi, who joined the Seahawks in 2023, will take Williams’ role as center. Oluwatimi played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers and the Michigan Wolverines.

Jalen Sundell, who signed for Seattle as an undrafted free agent, will be backup to Oluwatimi. Sundell previously played college football at North Dakota State.