Bryce Huff Retires from the NFL to Launch Naberstone and Tackle Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

Bryce Huff made one of the more surprising moves of the 2026 offseason when he retired from the NFL in March at age 27. The former Jets, Eagles and 49ers defensive end didn’t leave because of injury or fading opportunity. He left to tackle a different kind of threat alongside his older brother Jordan.

Huff, who turned 28 in April, is co-founder and CEO of Naberstone. The company develops fire safety solutions for the lithium-ion batteries now powering cars, tools, bikes, data centers and countless other devices. He and Jordan spent the last two and a half years building the business. It already has six employees, one major customer signed and active discussions with the U.S. military, a large waste recycling company and groups in Europe and Asia.

The Family Decision That Changed Everything

The retirement was a family call. Huff and his brother had been planning the next chapter for years while Huff was still chasing quarterbacks. They grew up in Mobile, Alabama, always thinking bigger than the next play, enthralled with science and entrepreneurship even as kids on the football field.

“I feel like we’re going to save a lot of lives and protect a lot of companies,” Huff told The Athletic.

“Everybody knows football is a short-term game. I wanted to have a plan after.”

Huff walked away from roughly $5.4 million in remaining guarantees on his 49ers deal. His mother was not thrilled at first — football had been his life since he was four. Friends saw the move coming. Teammates were shocked. Huff has no regrets.

The Growing Danger Huff Is Now Fighting

Batteries are everywhere and the risks grow with them. Huff explained the core problem in simple terms.

“Everything is slowly but surely containing batteries, from our cars to our tools to bikes, you name it. The biggest risk with batteries is the way they ignite if they were to take on some type of damage or malfunction or short circuit. One cell in the battery combusts… and then it’s just like a chain reaction throughout the battery.”

Traditional suppression methods often rely on water, which can spread toxins and fail to stop thermal runaway effectively. Naberstone’s technology interrupts the fire without water or harmful chemical release. It is safer for firefighters and bystanders and better for the environment. The company has already partnered with an international manufacturer to scale production.

Applications span electric vehicles, power tools, data centers, charging stations, aviation and more. As battery use explodes, so does the need for better protection.

From Undrafted Jets Prospect to Super Bowl Champion

Huff’s football journey shows the same drive he now brings to Naberstone. He arrived in the league as an undrafted free agent with the Jets in 2020 after four years at Memphis. In four seasons there he recorded 17.5 sacks, including a breakout 10-sack campaign in 2023 under head coach Robert Saleh.

A three-year, $51 million contract took him to the Eagles in 2024. He contributed to their Super Bowl-winning season even while injuries limited him to 2.5 sacks. The Eagles traded him to the 49ers in 2025. Huff responded with four sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 15 games, helping stabilize the defensive line after Nick Bosa’s injury.

Career totals: 24 sacks, 108 tackles and a Super Bowl ring. He never fixated on the ring. “It doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said. He never quite fit in Philadelphia the way he hoped.

Engineering Roots Finally Put to Work

Huff studied mechanical engineering at Memphis until budget cuts led to his favorite professor being laid off. He shifted focus fully to football. The move always felt temporary in the back of his mind.

“Going into the NFL, I couldn’t really put my love for engineering to good use. But now I feel like since we’re working with engineers on a day-to-day basis, it’s just as good as being an engineer myself.”

That love for problem-solving now drives daily work at Naberstone. The same intensity he once brought to pass rushing is aimed at building systems that protect lives and critical infrastructure.

What Comes Next

Huff believes the 49ers remain legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2026 with the returns of key players and additions like Mike Evans. His own focus has shifted entirely to scaling Naberstone and turning early momentum into lasting impact.

The brothers are not chasing headlines. They are chasing solutions in a space that will only grow more important. Huff’s competitive fire never left the field — it simply found a new arena where the stakes involve protecting people and companies rather than sacking quarterbacks.