Navy’s Malcolm Perry retires from the NFL

Perry is the second all-time leading rusher in Navy history. He retires after spending time on the New England Patriots roster.

Malcolm Perry – the former record-setting quarterback for Navy – has retired from pro football. According to multiple reports, Perry will return to full-time service with the Navy.

The New England Patriots placed him on the reserved/retired list on July 22. The Capital reports that he will likely report to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. At the academy, Perry was a quantitative economics major.

A 5-foot-9 native of Kentucky who grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, Perry received very few offers from the FBS level, and signed with Navy after considering rivals Air Force and Army, and Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay.

Both of his parents served in the Army, but Perry would eventually become the perfect commander for the Midshipmen’s triple-option attack.

In Annapolis from 2016 to 2019, Perry totaled 6,140 yards of total offense and scored 53 touchdowns. As a freshman, he was famously pulled out of the crowd and thrust into a backup role after starter Tago Smith went down at the start of the 2016 season. After bouncing between roles as a sophomore and junior, Perry took control of the unit ahead of his final campaign.

As a senior, he was the 2019 AAC Offensive Player of the Year, was second in the nation in rushing yards, and led the Mids to an 11-2 record and No. 20 finish in the AP Poll – a season that included wins over Army and Air Force, and over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. Perry finished his Navy football career with 4,359 rushing yards, which is second in program history to only Keenan Reynolds. And his 40 rushing scores are fourth in Mids’ history. Perry’s 2019 rushing total – 2,017 yards – is the FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

Perry played in nine NFL games with the Dolphins in 2020 after Miami picked him in the seventh round of the draft. He caught nine passes for 92 yards and a score, and also logged three rushing attempts.

He later spent time on practice squads with the Patriots and New Orleans Saints.

Two Navy men remain on NFL squads: long snapper Joe Cardona with the Patriots, and linebacker Diego Fagot with the Baltimore Ravens.

If Perry’s football career is indeed over, Navy fans will always remember some of his dazzling and electrifying runs. Against Air Force, Notre Dame, Army, and Cincinnati. In Philly and Baltimore and Annapolis. In the sun, rain or snow. If Perry had the ball, Navy always had a chance.