Overview
- Hankins told NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Thursday that he is retiring, closing a 12‑season career that was widely reported across major outlets.
- He finished with 169 games and 142 starts, compiling 433 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 44 tackles for loss and other totals that underline long‑term consistency rather than big highlight stats.
- The Ohio State product was a 2013 second‑round pick and played for the Giants, Colts, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, Cowboys and Seahawks, with his longest stretch being five seasons in Oakland/Las Vegas where he started 61 games.
- A back injury wiped out Hankins’ 2025 season, Seattle placed him on the reserve/non‑football injury list, coach Mike Macdonald confirmed he would not return that year, and the team released him with a non‑injury settlement in December 2025.
- Hankins leaves a reputation as a high‑end run defender who occupied blockers and helped teammates make plays, a durability story that stands out against the NFL average career length and shaped his role on multiple defensive fronts.