After two releases in just over a month, a former Green Bay Packers draft pick has officially retired from professional football. At 28 years old, he’s chosen to take a new path off the field.

The transition marks the end of a difficult chapter for the once-promising offensive lineman, who struggled to maintain a roster spot after several short-lived stints across the league.

Royce Newman

, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, showed early promise with over 1,000 rookie snaps but never fully developed into a consistent pass protector. Over the next few years, his role and performance steadily declined.

After short stops with the Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Patriots, Newman decided to retire and return to Green Bay — not as a player, but as a member of the Green Bay Police Department

, working in community outreach and youth mentorship.

In a statement, Newman shared, “At the Cowboys, we fought together on the field. In Green Bay, I’ll fight for the people — because loyalty doesn’t end when the lights go out.”

His decision has drawn praise from both Packers fans and local officials, who see it as a full-circle story — from protecting quarterbacks to protecting the community he once represented on Sundays.