NASHVILLE, TN – On Thursday, Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis announced his retirement from professional soccer. The 38-year-old will finish out the 2026 season before hanging up his gloves for good.
"After 16 years of living my dream, I’ve decided it’s time for me to hang up my gloves for good at the end of the season," Willis said in an Instagram post. "This game and league have given me more than I could have ever imagined, and I am eternally grateful."
Willis, 38, was acquired by Nashville in the lead up to their 2020 expansion season. In Nashville, Willis instantly became a write-in-pen starter. Over his sevens seasons, the 'keeper made 206 appearances. Until Brian Schwake took over as the starting goalkeeper in 2026, Willis had played in all but seven of Nashville's matches in MLS play.
On September 26, Willis made his first start of the 2026 season, keeping his 62nd clean sheet in a Nashville shirt in a 2-0 win over Toronto FC, sending the Geodis Park crowd into "Joe says no!" chants one final time.
As an expansion club, having a solid defense was a crucial part of Nashville's early success, and Willis was vital to that, both in his play on the field and his ability as a veteran to come in and organize a group of defenders who had never played together. Nashville have built on the defensive foundation he established, allowing just 23 goals in 2026. No team has allowed fewer than 26 in a 34-game season, putting Nashville on track to go down as one of the best defensive teams in history.
Off the field, Willis was a vocal leader in the locker room and a consistent presence in the community. He's been an active part of Nashville's partnership with the Special Olympics Unified Teams, helping young athletes to continue their development and represent their club.
Willis is Nashville's all-time leader in clean sheets (62), and has the third-most minutes (20,586) and fourth-most appearances (206) in club history. In total, Willis has had a 16-year professional career, making 420 appearances in the MLS regular season and playoffs, and keeping 97 clean sheets in all competitions.
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