Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced his retirement on Monday in a post on Instagram.
Bozeman played eight NFL seasons, the last two with the Chargers.
“This game has given me so much — lessons, lifelong friendships, and memories my family will carry forever,” Bozeman wrote in the post. “I’ve poured everything I had into this journey, and I walk away grateful and proud.”
A sixth-round pick in 2018, Bozeman spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before playing two seasons for the Carolina Panthers. In 2024, he signed a one-year deal with the Chargers to be their starting center for the first year under coach Jim Harbaugh. Bozeman reunited with then-Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who had coached Bozeman in Baltimore.
congrats on your retirement, boze pic.twitter.com/urGezTYqwe
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) February 23, 2026
Bozeman re-signed with the Chargers on a two-year deal last offseason. He started 17 games at center in 2025, including the postseason. He played poorly, particularly in pass protection. Bozeman dealt with a back injury early in the year that affected his performance.
After the Chargers lost to the New England Patriots in the first round of the playoffs, they fired Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin. The Chargers then hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who brought on Butch Barry as the new offensive line coach.
Bozeman was not going to be a fit in McDaniel’s scheme, largely because of athletic deficiencies. The Chargers could have cut Bozeman and saved $5.875 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. They will save at least that amount with Bozeman’s retirement.
Even before Bozeman’s retirement, the Chargers were likely going to be looking to upgrade at center heading into free agency, which begins in two weeks. That search for a replacement is now a certainty.
The Chargers have one center currently on the roster in Josh Kaltenberger, who was a 2025 undrafted free agent. Kaltenberger spent most of last season on the Chargers’ practice squad and did not see any action in the regular season.
There are options at center in this year’s free agent class, including the Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum, the Buffalo Bills’ Connor McGovern, the Carolina Panthers’ Cade Mays and the New Orleans Saints’ Luke Fortner.
Bozeman was beloved in the Chargers locker room for his leadership and toughness. He missed one start in two seasons, and that was Week 18 of this past season when the Chargers had already clinched a playoff spot and rested their starters against the Denver Broncos.
“Thank you to every teammate, coach and fan I was blessed to cross paths with along the way,” Bozeman wrote in his retirement post. “On to the next chapter of life at the farm!”