Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard retired Wednesday after his first four games with the Indianapolis Colts and nine seasons in the NFL. Howard, 32, was not at practice Wednesday, with the Colts’ injury report indicating it was due to a personal matter. Howard said in a social media post that he was choosing to retire for family reasons, that his “dream has now changed” and he is “no longer willing” to put football ahead of family. “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football,” he wrote. After sitting out the 2024 season, Howard signed as a free agent with the Colts in August.