Ryan Kerrigan is an unwavering football fanatic; he has played in 172 regular season games on the Washington team, dedicating much of his time to the sport. “Football was my life,” he once said. Now, the closest he can get to playing on the field is observing his teammates practicing from the sidelines.
Retiring from his ideal career was a difficult decision for Kerrigan. “I kind of had that realization the other night…” he said. “I’m not going to play football anymore. That’s kind of crazy. Been doing it for so long.” Still, he knows that it’s the right decision, and accepts the choice, even after a long 11 seasons as a former defensive end.
Kerrigan should have retired over a year ago, according to doctors. The former football player’s main setback was a deteriorating knee. In 2013, Kerrigan tore his meniscus, and the knee continued to worsen for years to come, even after surgery. Although his body was ready for him to quit, his mind wasn’t. “Because it’s all the relationships you built over the years with teammates, coaches, the people. . . It’s hard to walk away, even though I know it’s the right thing.”
“He’s a guy I looked up to since middle school,” said his teammate Chase Young. His friendships are one of the main reasons he hopes his knee holds up, allowing him to continue playing the sport he has enjoyed so much. However, he eventually had to resign.
He signed a one-day contract ending his football career on Friday, surrounded by his teammates and coaches; it’s evident that they’ll miss him greatly.
Despite the heartbreak of moving on, vacating the football team has ‘freed’ him from his rigid lifestyle. He treated his every meal and every move as part of the game. He wanted all of his decisions to lead to success on the field. With football off his mind, he has more freedom and can reduce the stress that his injured knee causes.
Even though he can’t play anymore, football has been a major part of Kerrigan’s life for so long, it’s nearly impossible to quit interacting with the sport altogether. “I want to stay in football, so I am excited to find out where football is going to take me next,” Kerrigan said. In the future, he plans to take up a coaching career. He is nowhere close to landing a job in the NFL yet, but it won’t be a difficult task for Kerrigan, considering his excellent playing ability.
“I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity,” Kerrigan admitted.
Links:
https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/ryan-kerrigan/4861
Retiring from his ideal career was a difficult decision for Kerrigan. “I kind of had that realization the other night…” he said. “I’m not going to play football anymore. That’s kind of crazy. Been doing it for so long.” Still, he knows that it’s the right decision, and accepts the choice, even after a long 11 seasons as a former defensive end.
Kerrigan should have retired over a year ago, according to doctors. The former football player’s main setback was a deteriorating knee. In 2013, Kerrigan tore his meniscus, and the knee continued to worsen for years to come, even after surgery. Although his body was ready for him to quit, his mind wasn’t. “Because it’s all the relationships you built over the years with teammates, coaches, the people. . . It’s hard to walk away, even though I know it’s the right thing.”
“He’s a guy I looked up to since middle school,” said his teammate Chase Young. His friendships are one of the main reasons he hopes his knee holds up, allowing him to continue playing the sport he has enjoyed so much. However, he eventually had to resign.
He signed a one-day contract ending his football career on Friday, surrounded by his teammates and coaches; it’s evident that they’ll miss him greatly.
Despite the heartbreak of moving on, vacating the football team has ‘freed’ him from his rigid lifestyle. He treated his every meal and every move as part of the game. He wanted all of his decisions to lead to success on the field. With football off his mind, he has more freedom and can reduce the stress that his injured knee causes.
Even though he can’t play anymore, football has been a major part of Kerrigan’s life for so long, it’s nearly impossible to quit interacting with the sport altogether. “I want to stay in football, so I am excited to find out where football is going to take me next,” Kerrigan said. In the future, he plans to take up a coaching career. He is nowhere close to landing a job in the NFL yet, but it won’t be a difficult task for Kerrigan, considering his excellent playing ability.
“I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity,” Kerrigan admitted.
Links:
https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/ryan-kerrigan/4861
