Wearing a burgundy Washington Commanders T-shirt, 11-season football player Ryan Kerrigan stood at the sideline, rarely ever being there in the past 12 years. His retirement was not only heartbreaking for his fans, but also for his teams. It hurts for him to watch a game he loves but cannot play.
“While I’m thankful for the amazing times and memories I was able to have as a player, I’m equally thankful to now have the wisdom and courage to walk away,” Kerrigan said in a statement. “We all eventually come to the end of our playing days, and that time is now for me.”
With 11 seasons in the NFL and 10 seasons in D.C., the 33-year old football star signed a one-year contract with their rivals in Philadelphia in 2021. He appeared in 16 games, but earned just three tackles and had his first season without a sack.
Over time, he started to show his true skills. The 2011 first-round pack proved his worth, famously scoring a touchdown in his rookie debut, with a game-winning score in a 28-14 victory over New York Giants. He then earned four career Pro Bowls nods, the first coming in his second season.
Despite his retirement, he will always be classified as the hero and “family member” of his team. He also hopes to be a coach, or a mentor related to the sport.
“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.”
These positive yet saddening remarks also left Kerrigan feeling the same way: sorrowful.
“I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
Sources cited:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
https://www.nfl.com/news/ryan-kerrigan-retires-washington-eagles-11-seasons
“While I’m thankful for the amazing times and memories I was able to have as a player, I’m equally thankful to now have the wisdom and courage to walk away,” Kerrigan said in a statement. “We all eventually come to the end of our playing days, and that time is now for me.”
With 11 seasons in the NFL and 10 seasons in D.C., the 33-year old football star signed a one-year contract with their rivals in Philadelphia in 2021. He appeared in 16 games, but earned just three tackles and had his first season without a sack.
Over time, he started to show his true skills. The 2011 first-round pack proved his worth, famously scoring a touchdown in his rookie debut, with a game-winning score in a 28-14 victory over New York Giants. He then earned four career Pro Bowls nods, the first coming in his second season.
Despite his retirement, he will always be classified as the hero and “family member” of his team. He also hopes to be a coach, or a mentor related to the sport.
“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.”
These positive yet saddening remarks also left Kerrigan feeling the same way: sorrowful.
“I love football too much,” he said. “I just love football too much to not be involved in it in any capacity.”
Sources cited:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659266118657x595420659224579200/Ryan%20Kerrigan%20retires%20from%20Washington%20and%20considers%20football%20career%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
https://www.nfl.com/news/ryan-kerrigan-retires-washington-eagles-11-seasons
