SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 28: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions stretches prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/G …
FOX 2 - The Detroit Lions have cut ties with the team's longest-tenured player, Taylor Decker after apparent negotiations broke down.
Dig deeper:
The veteran offensive tackle posted on Instagram today that his time with the team has come to an end as he requested his release - which was granted.
Decker, who turns 33 in August, had been on the fence deciding on his retirement. Just recently he announced his return.
Decker was the Lions' first round pick with pick No. 16 in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has started at left tackle, ever since.
Last season he missed three games (six the past two years combined) due to injuries and powered through, despite plenty of wear and tear.
Taylor Decker posted:
Things change, 145 games started, 3 games started, 3 playoff appearances, 2 division titles, a decade carrying the shield. I fully intended to do it once again, but my time as a Lion is coming to an end.
"In the weeks since notifying the team of my return there have been numerous discussions. Many of which were a surprise to me, and we could not find common ground. Therefore I decided to request my release.
"I am opting for a clean and amicable close to what has been such a beautiful 10 years going to war as a Lion.
"It has been the absolute privilege of my life to be your LT for the past 10 years. And I am forever grateful for the opportunity the Ford family and Lions organization afforded me."
Decker has been the anchor of the offensive line since arriving in Detroit, but coach Dan Campbell spoke about the franchise needing a long-term plan for the position at last week's scouting combine in Indianapolis.
"Look, if (he retires), then we got to find a guy, right? But if (he comes back), we still got to find a guy. Because as much as I love Deck, you know, it's, he's got some things that are that are going to need some management."
Taylor Decker through the years:
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 02: Tackle Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring his first career touchdown during action against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Ford Field. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 14: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions reacts as he takes the field prior to a game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 18: K'Lavon Chaisson #45 of the Jacksonville Jaguars rushes against Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions during the second half of a game at TIAA Bank Field on October 18, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Photo still from Taylor Decker Instagram GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions greets fans after defeating the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) defends against Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 15, 2019 (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 15: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions watches the action on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on December 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 38-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 30: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions drops back to block during an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Ford Field on October 30, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 30: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) wait in the tunnel before a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 30, 2024 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: (L-R) Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 04: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on December 4, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) talks with Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) after the game during the Detroit Lions versus the Los Angeles Rams game on Sunday September 8, 2024 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 14: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after beating the Los Angeles Rams in a NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 21: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on January 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 28: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions stretches prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)