Change in course
Former Mids star Perry retires from the NFL to resume military career
Malcolm Perry was on the verge of beginning a third season in the National Football League when he made a decision that surprised many.
Just days before the start of 2022 training camp, the New England Patriots wide receiver announced he was retiring from professional football with the intent of resuming his military career as soon as possible.
Perry, a 2020 graduate of the Naval Academy, had been contemplating the move for some time and was at peace with the decision.
“I kind of felt my time in the NFL was coming to an end, just mentally and physically,” Perry told The Capital Gazette last Friday afternoon at the Guinness Brewery in Halethorpe.
The Naval Academy and Notre Dame alumni associations held a joint luncheon to celebrate the 95th meeting between the two institutions, which was held Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
A pair of former Navy and Notre Dame players were the guests of honor at the event. Perry represented the Midshipmen, while Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley represented the Fighting Irish.
Perry, who had previously declined media requests to discuss his sudden retirement, explained the reasoning behind his decision.
“I still had a burning desire to go serve and fulfill the commitment I signed up for when I went to the Naval Academy,” Perry said. “I kind of came to the conclusion that I was ready to call it quits and go do something that means a lot to me, my family and my country.”
Record-setting career
Perry was a four-year varsity standout at Navy, making his collegiate debut in the most sensational of ways. Starter Tago Smith got injured during the season opener against Fordham and Perry was literally pulled out of the stands at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.*
After missing three days of practice due to illness then playing in the junior varsity game on Friday, Perry did not dress for the opener and thus sat in full uniform among the Brigade of Midshipmen.
When Will Worth took over for the fallen Smith, Navy was suddenly without a backup quarterback because third-stringer Zach Abey was suspended for the game. With Navy comfortably ahead, Perry came off the bench and made several nice runs while leading a 90-yard drive that produced a field goal.
So the legend began.
Perry alternated between quarterback and slotback as a sophomore and junior, rushing for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns over those two seasons. It was all a prelude to one of the greatest individual seasons in Navy football history.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper tailored the offense to suit Perry’s skill set and he literally ran wild as a senior.
The 5-foot-9 speedster set the Football Bowl Subdivision single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 2,017 and scored 21 touchdowns as Navy went 9-2, captured the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy and upset Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl.
Perry was simply spectacular and the NFL scouts took notice. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver.