Former Chargers Center Will Clapp Announces NFL Retirement

Former Los Angeles Chargers center Will Clapp announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons in a recent Instagram post.

The 29-year-old spent four seasons with the LSU Tigers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors twice (2016, 2017). As a senior, Clapp was named a team captain and finished as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to college football’s most outstanding center.

Clapp, a New Orleans native, was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by his childhood favorite team, the New Orleans Saints. He spent four seasons in the Big Easy, making seven starts while serving primarily as a depth piece at center and guard. Across 301 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed five sacks and 27 total pressures.

He joined the Chargers in 2022 free agency on a one-year deal, starting three games and allowing just eight pressures without surrendering a sack on 252 pass-blocking snaps. His steady play led to a second one-year contract with the Bolts, where he posted a career-high 11 starts and 702 offensive snaps. During his final season in Los Angeles, he allowed one sack and 23 pressures across 464 pass-blocking snaps.

Clapp spent one brief season with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, starting one game and playing just 67 offensive snaps. He allowed two pressures across 35 pass-blocking snaps. He rejoined the Saints on another one-year deal for the 2025 season but suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the team’s preseason matchup against the Chargers.

This closes the chapter on a respectable NFL career for Clapp, who established himself as a dependable and versatile offensive lineman. While he was never set in stone as a full-time starter, he proved to be a valuable depth option throughout his time in the league. Clapp's résumé may not immediately stand out on paper, but he built a reputation as a reliable professional who understood his assignment and executed it with consistency while also being an exceptional teammate.

During his tenure with the Chargers, Clapp provided stability along an interior offensive line that battled injuries and inconsistency. He was frequently asked to step into the lineup on short notice and adapt to changing responsibilities. Roles like his rarely draw headlines, but they often determine whether players like Clapp have lengthy NFL careers. His preparation and production when called upon ultimately defined his career and helped extend it far beyond what many seventh-round selections are able to achieve.