Wearing a crimson Washington Commanders T-shirt, Ryan Kerrigan stood quietly behind the end zone as the defensive line rammed into sleds and dodged padded cones. Rarely in the past 12 years had he been on the sidelines in street clothing watching a game he loves but can’t play.
“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,” Kerrigan 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.”
The former defensive end and the franchise’s all-time sack leader decided he was retiring on a Friday in June. He completed an 11-season run in the NFL, including 10 with the Commanders. This was his plan for more than a year, although at times the Indiana native wondered if he could keep playing.
The truth is that his knee was shot. In May 2021, doctors gave him reports on his knee, and he was encouraged to retire. But while his knee needed him to stop, his mind wanted to keep playing football. Over the past two years, he’s reflected on his time in Washington.
“But it’s when I come back here to the training facility that I really am like, ‘That’s why I’ve loved this place,’” Kerrigan said. “Because it’s all the relationships you built over the years with teammates, coaches, the people in the kitchen, the strength staff, media, it’s hard to walk away, even though I know it’s the right thing.”
Kerrigan’s 12-year career included 172 regular season games, 139 consecutive games to begin his career, 147 quarterback hits, 95.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, and three interceptions returned for touchdowns put him among Washington’s finest players.
Although Kerrigan retired, he’s not done with football. Maybe he’ll get a job involving or related to football, like a coach or referee. “I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
“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,” Kerrigan 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.”
The former defensive end and the franchise’s all-time sack leader decided he was retiring on a Friday in June. He completed an 11-season run in the NFL, including 10 with the Commanders. This was his plan for more than a year, although at times the Indiana native wondered if he could keep playing.
The truth is that his knee was shot. In May 2021, doctors gave him reports on his knee, and he was encouraged to retire. But while his knee needed him to stop, his mind wanted to keep playing football. Over the past two years, he’s reflected on his time in Washington.
“But it’s when I come back here to the training facility that I really am like, ‘That’s why I’ve loved this place,’” Kerrigan said. “Because it’s all the relationships you built over the years with teammates, coaches, the people in the kitchen, the strength staff, media, it’s hard to walk away, even though I know it’s the right thing.”
Kerrigan’s 12-year career included 172 regular season games, 139 consecutive games to begin his career, 147 quarterback hits, 95.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, and three interceptions returned for touchdowns put him among Washington’s finest players.
Although Kerrigan retired, he’s not done with football. Maybe he’ll get a job involving or related to football, like a coach or referee. “I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
