NEW ORLEANS — The trenches just lost a reliable anchor. Former New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Will Clapp is officially hanging up his cleats. The 30-year-old LSU product announced his retirement Wednesday, stepping away from the gridiron after seven active NFL seasons, 66 career games, and a grueling rehab process that ultimately ended his playing days.
Clapp didn’t just survive the meat grinder of the NFL interior; he absorbed the hits and kept his quarterbacks clean. But a devastating foot injury during the 2025 preseason robbed him of a true homecoming in New Orleans. Now, as the 2026 offseason ramps up, Clapp is trading his shoulder pads for a clipboard.
Holding the Line: From Baton Rouge to Buffalo
Drafted in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, the two-time First-team All-SEC selection built a career on grit and versatility. He logged 22 starts and exactly 1,717 regular-season offensive snaps (verifiably correcting heavily circulated rumors of 2,555 total snaps by stripping away unrecorded preseason reps), proving his worth as a heavy-package specialist and a plug-and-play center.
When the Chargers lost Corey Linsley to a heart condition early in 2023, Clapp answered the call. He anchored Los Angeles starting in Week 4, battling elite interior pass rushers week after week. He even jumped into the freezing fray for Bills Mafia during the 2024 postseason. You could always count on number 64 to bring his lunch pail.
But the NFL is an unforgiving business. Last August, during his highly anticipated return to the Black and Gold, Clapp went down in the first quarter of a preseason clash against the Chargers. Trainers carted him off the Superdome turf with his right shoe removed. The diagnosis was a severe Lisfranc injury—a brutal midfoot tear that required season-ending surgery.
“From the first to the last and all the ones in between, thank you for being my rock! Grateful for an amazing career and excited for our next chapter!”
— Will Clapp, Former NFL Center (via Instagram)
A New Orleans Love Story
Off the field, Clapp’s support system kept him grounded. His retirement announcement doubled as a touching tribute to his high school sweetheart and wife, Lizzie Cousins. While early internet rumors claimed they were both Crusaders at Brother Martin High School, local New Orleans natives know better—Brother Martin is a strict all-boys Catholic school. Clapp wore the Crusader uniform while Lizzie cheered him on, long before the deafening roar of Sunday Night Football. She watched him grind from the Friday night lights, through the roaring crowds of Death Valley at LSU, all the way to the pros. That foundation made his difficult choice to retire a little easier.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Don’t expect Clapp to disappear from Airline Drive. He spent the entire 2025 season on injured reserve, but he didn’t just rehab in the shadows. He actively shadowed the Saints’ coaching staff.
With former Saints great Jahri Evans recently leaving his assistant offensive line coach role to join the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, New Orleans has a glaring vacancy on the staff. Clapp already knows offensive line coach Brendan Nugent from their shared time in Los Angeles. The writing is on the wall. Expect the Saints to formally announce Clapp’s transition to a coaching role soon. The 30-year-old still has decades of football left in him—just from the sideline this time.
