Triplette privately began discussing retirement from the NFL during the 2017 season. Triplette's work during his last assignment of the 2017 regular season (the Week 17 game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins) was marred by confusion over players (at one point ejecting a player from the wrong team who was not on the field and another player who did not exist after an on-field fight, eventually correcting his mistake after a ten-minute instant replay review). The following week's wild card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans was also criticized for prematurely calling the ball dead before the play would have otherwise ended on several plays; one such incident, on a sack that appeared to be a forced fumble had Triplette not blown the whistle, potentially altered the outcome of that game. (Triplette defended his decision by noting that the rules for a sack do not require the quarterback be brought down, only that he be wrapped up and/or that his progress be stopped, which Triplette argued was the case.) In both games, Triplette was criticized for losing control of the game. After the wild card game, reports surfaced that Triplette was planning on retiring, and speculation also emerged that his officiating the playoff game was a farewell gesture from the league. On March 6, 2018, the league confirmed that Triplette would be leaving his position after a 22-year career. As he had notified the league well in advance, they were able to prepare for Alex Kemp to step into Triplette's position.