Veteran center Billy Price retires after ‘terrifying’ blood clot

Billy Price, a 2018 first-round draft pick, announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday because of the potential of complications from a blood clot.

“In the blink of an eye, everything can be taken away,” Price wrote on Instagram. “On April 24th I had emergency pulmonary embolism surgery to remove a saddle clot that was entering both of my lungs. As a healthy 29 year old, an unprovoked pulmonary embolism with no further medical explanation is terrifying. I am truly thankful to be alive today.

“Unfortunately, I will be retiring from the NFL as the risk of an internal bleed while on blood thinners creates tremendous risk.”

Price, a center, last played in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals during the 2022 season.

He played in 69 career games (45 starts) with the Bengals, Giants and Cardinals since being selected by Cincinnati with the 21st pick of the 2018 NFL draft out of Ohio State.

With the Buckeyes, he won the Rimington Trophy, which honors the nation’s top center, in 2017.