Former Washington Huskies Wide Receiver Announces Retirement From Football
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Huskies football team are entering this season with expectations to potentially compete for a College Football Playoff spot.
The Huskies' offseason of expectations comes before the third season under head coach Jedd Fisch.
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Fisch was hired after Washington lost in the 2024 College Football Playoff championship game against the Michigan Wolverines. Following UW's loss to Michigan, previous head coach Kalen DeBoer took the head role with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Following the Huskies' championship loss, many of the team's best players either ran out of eligibility, entered the transfer portal or opted to enter that year's NFL Draft.
One of the players who went pro was Ja'Lynn Polk, who was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
Polk wasn't able to have the success in the professionals as several of his former teammates, including fellow wide receiver and current Chicago Bears pass-catcher Rome Odunze.
In his lone year with the Patriots, Polk played in 14 games, started seven and caught 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Polk's rookie season ended prematurely after he underwent shoulder surgery Aug. 21, 2025.
Following his rookie season, Polk was traded by New England to the New Orleans Saints in return for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick.
Polk was unable to make a regular season appearance for New Orleans this past season after re-injuring his shoulder and undergoing another procedure. It was announced in a post on "X" from NFL insider Ian Rapoport that Polk had been placed on the reserve/retired list and had walked away from the game at 24-years-old.
Unfortunately, Ja’Lynn Polk’s career highlights are only 12 receptions, 87 yards, and 2 TDs that fit in a 2:12 long clip. https://t.co/2fdhi6Zn7ipic.twitter.com/c6hDdc2UqC
— Michael Rodnick (@MJRodnick) August 2, 2026
Polk was a three-star receiver in the Class of 2020. He originally committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. After playing 10 years as a true freshman with the Red Raiders in 2020, which saw him named to several All-Freshman lists, Polk entered the transfer portal and finished out the final three years of his college career with Washington.
In his three years with the Huskies, played 31 games and caught 115 passes for 1,967 yards and 16 touchdowns. He saved his best for his final year on Montlake and reeled in 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine scores in 15 games, including the playoffs, in the 2023-24 season.
Polk is the second former Washington college player to retire from the NFL this offseason. Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who signed a deal this offseason to play with the Philadelphia Eagles, also called it a career.