Veteran DL Eddie Goldman is attempting a comeback with the Falcons

The former Bears standout joined the Falcons during the 2022 offseason. After spending two weeks with the organization, Goldman suddenly announced his retirement.

The defensive lineman considered a comeback last offseason. The Falcons reinstated him from the reserve/retired list last March, and he reportedly looked “phenomenal” after reporting to camp in July. However, his comeback attempt was short lived, as he once again retired before being placed on the reserve/left squad list.

We’ll see if this second comeback attempt sticks, although the odds will be stacked against him. Goldman has only been active for one season over the past four years. That came during the 2021 campaign, when the defensive lineman started 10 of his 14 appearances for the Bears. 

He finished that season with 22 stops and half a sack, with Pro Football Focus grading him among the lowest interior defenders in the league.

Goldman was once one of Chicago’s most dependable defenders. The former second-round pick started all 46 of his appearances for the Bears between 2017-19, with PFF grading him among the best at his position following his three-sack season in 2018. Goldman ended up opting out of the 2020 season before struggling in 2021.

The Falcons should return much of their interior DL depth in 2024, although Grady Jarrett‘s early-season availability is in doubt as he recovers from a torn ACL. David Onyemata and Ta’Quon Graham will both be back up the middle, but Goldman could soak up some of the snaps left by Albert Huggins, who remains unsigned.

To clear up some of their depth, the Falcons released defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu earlier Tuesday (per the team). The 2023 UDFA out of Rice spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve.