Ryan Kerrigan, the Washington Commander’s all-time leader in sacks, has unfortunately retired due to medical problems with his knee. While watching from the sidelines, something that he hadn’t done in 12 years, he has contemplated his career and subsequent retirement.
“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.”
His doctors had said that he should’ve retired a year ago after a bad left knee got injury, however, at the time Kerrigan wasn’t ready to quit.
“I wasn’t emotionally ready to not play football anymore,” Kerrigan said. “I had a good playoff game and that made me think I could still do this. As I got into training again in late June, the knee really bothered me again.”
In his years of football, he’s inspired many players, such as third-year defensive Chase Young, who stated that he’s looked up to Kerrigan since middle school, and says that it was a great honor playing with him.
He’s a guy that you could always count on,” said Coach Ron Rivera. “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.”
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/30/ryan-kerrigan-is-done-playing-he-loves-football-too-much-leave/
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34317933/retirement-franchise-sacks-leader-ryan-kerrigan-closes-era-washington-football
“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.”
His doctors had said that he should’ve retired a year ago after a bad left knee got injury, however, at the time Kerrigan wasn’t ready to quit.
“I wasn’t emotionally ready to not play football anymore,” Kerrigan said. “I had a good playoff game and that made me think I could still do this. As I got into training again in late June, the knee really bothered me again.”
In his years of football, he’s inspired many players, such as third-year defensive Chase Young, who stated that he’s looked up to Kerrigan since middle school, and says that it was a great honor playing with him.
He’s a guy that you could always count on,” said Coach Ron Rivera. “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.”
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/30/ryan-kerrigan-is-done-playing-he-loves-football-too-much-leave/
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34317933/retirement-franchise-sacks-leader-ryan-kerrigan-closes-era-washington-football