On Friday, Washington Commanders defensive end Ryan Kerrigan announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the NFL due to a knee injury that prevents him from playing football.
Kerrigan played 172 regular season games and has 147 quarterback hits, 95.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles and three interceptions returned for touchdowns to boast about. These accomplishments undoubtedly place him among the NFL’s best pass rushers and make him one of Washington’s finest players.
Kerrigan’s life has completely revolved around football since he joined the NFL. His schedule, his diet, his lifestyle and every choice or decision he made was to help him become a better player.
“I just want [fans] to know that I gave them everything I had, like, literally everything I had,” Kerrigan said. “Emotionally, physically, they got all of me. Football was my life. … I just want fans to know that it meant that much to me, that my performance and what I was showing on Sundays was that important to me, that it was my driving force in life.”
Kerrigan made it abundantly clear that retirement was an extremely difficult decision for him to make, but felt that it was the wisest choice given the continuously unsatisfactory reports on his knee.
“Even though I know it’s the right decision, ultimately it’s still not easy to know that I’m not going to play football anymore,” he said. “I kind of had that realization the other night. … I’m not going to play football anymore. That’s kind of crazy. Been doing it for so long. But I just know where I’m at, health-wise and whatnot, that this is the best thing for me moving forward.”
Although Kerrigan will no longer be able to play the game he loves, he still plans to remain in the football world moving forward. Kerrigan hopes to become a coach and continue to mentor players, or perhaps become a consultant or assistant in Washington.
“I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
“He’s a guy that you could always count on,” Coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s a guy that always could help set the example. I mean, you only get so many of those guys, and when you get them, they most certainly need to be celebrated.”
Link to article:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
Kerrigan played 172 regular season games and has 147 quarterback hits, 95.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles and three interceptions returned for touchdowns to boast about. These accomplishments undoubtedly place him among the NFL’s best pass rushers and make him one of Washington’s finest players.
Kerrigan’s life has completely revolved around football since he joined the NFL. His schedule, his diet, his lifestyle and every choice or decision he made was to help him become a better player.
“I just want [fans] to know that I gave them everything I had, like, literally everything I had,” Kerrigan said. “Emotionally, physically, they got all of me. Football was my life. … I just want fans to know that it meant that much to me, that my performance and what I was showing on Sundays was that important to me, that it was my driving force in life.”
Kerrigan made it abundantly clear that retirement was an extremely difficult decision for him to make, but felt that it was the wisest choice given the continuously unsatisfactory reports on his knee.
“Even though I know it’s the right decision, ultimately it’s still not easy to know that I’m not going to play football anymore,” he said. “I kind of had that realization the other night. … I’m not going to play football anymore. That’s kind of crazy. Been doing it for so long. But I just know where I’m at, health-wise and whatnot, that this is the best thing for me moving forward.”
Although Kerrigan will no longer be able to play the game he loves, he still plans to remain in the football world moving forward. Kerrigan hopes to become a coach and continue to mentor players, or perhaps become a consultant or assistant in Washington.
“I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
“He’s a guy that you could always count on,” Coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s a guy that always could help set the example. I mean, you only get so many of those guys, and when you get them, they most certainly need to be celebrated.”
Link to article:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
