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Kyle Emanuel, the Chargers fifth-round draft pick form the 2015 NFL Draft has decided to come out of retirement and seek employment in the NFL once again.
Former #Chargers starting LB Kyle Emanuel, who abruptly retired at age 27 last year despite several free agent offers on the table, has decided he wants to play again, source said. He can sign immediately and should have significant interest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2020
Emanuel enjoyed a four-year career with the Chargers where he played in every game but one since he was drafted. As a rookie in 2015, he played in 15 games with three starts and totaled 25 tackles with three tackles-for-loss, one sack, and an interception.
His most productive season came in 2017 when he started 12 games and finished with 58 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and a half sack. In his last season in LA, Emanuel started 7 games and amassed 30 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, and an interception returned for a touchdown against the Broncos in the final week of the regular season.
You guys may remember Emanuel as a player that the majority of the fan base was fairly torn on during his career. He was a defensive end while at North Dakota State but the Chargers made him transition to a linebacker that played a little too much off the line of scrimmage. He would often get matched-up against an opposing receiver and that didn’t ever end well for the defense. Wherever he lands prior to the 2020 season, I hope he finds a scheme that will utilize him in the manner he succeeded so well in at the collegiate level when he won the award for the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.