Veteran NFL cornerback Ronald Darby has decided to retire from professional football, informing the Houston Texans of his decision.
The team officially placed him on the reserve/retired list on May 2.
Darby, 31, had signed a one-year deal with the Houstan Texans in March after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He played 12 games as a starter for the Jaguars during the 2024 season, which turned out to be his only year with the team.
Off the field, his girlfriend Hannah Cunliffe shared her support in an Instagram story, writing that she’s proud of him and grateful to have been by his side these past few years.
She added that she’s excited to stand with him in this next chapter and looks forward to the experiences ahead.
Fans Surprised As Hannah Cunliffe Reveals Ronald Darby Relationship And Announces Pregnancy
Back in 2023, a Twitter post stirred up buzz when it revealed that sprinter Hannah Cunliffe was dating Ronald Darby, who at the time was playing cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.
The post was labeled “Track couple alert,” and it caught many fans off guard.
People were surprised by the pairing until others pointed out Darby’s impressive track background.
Before fully committing to football, Ronald Darby was actually a world-class sprinter.
He competed internationally and won a gold and bronze medal at the 2011 World Youth Championships in athletics.
His speed on the football field has long been tied to his track roots, but this post reminded fans just how elite his sprinting days were, making the “track couple” nickname make perfect sense.
Then, in December 2023, Hannah Cunliffe announced that she was stepping away from her track career to focus on starting a family.
It was her way of letting fans know that she and Ronald Darby were expecting a baby.
Hannah called the baby her greatest gift, showing her excitement and gratitude for this new chapter in their lives.
Putting my 1st love on hold, to create a new love ❤️
Hannah Cunliffe
When a baby is made out of love and under God, they are destined for greatness. Merry Christmas I couldn’t ask for a better present
The couple welcomed a baby in April 2024.
A lot of fans didn’t even know she was in a relationship, let alone with NFL player Ronald Darby.
Some thought she had quietly gotten married or suddenly left the spotlight without explanation.
The post caught many off guard, especially since she had kept her relationship mostly private.
After the pregnancy announcement, Hannah Cunliffe became more open about her relationship with Ronald Darby.
She began sharing more moments with him on social media, including pictures from their maternity photoshoots and sweet posts celebrating special occasions.
By January 2025, she posted about celebrating her birthday with Darby, showing how close and supportive they were during this new chapter of their lives.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ronald Darby was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills after playing college football at Florida State.
- He made an immediate impact in his rookie year, starting 15 games and earning second place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
- He appeared in 118 games and wrapped up his career with 8 interceptions, 106 pass breakups, and 447 total tackles.
