Shaquil Barrett, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, announced his retirement on Saturday, four months after becoming a free agent and signing with the Miami Dolphins. Barrett posted on Instagram, saying, “It’s been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years.” “I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize (their) dreams.” Barrett stated that the decision to retire “has never been more clear than it is now” and that he had thought about it “for a while.” Barrett’s 2-year-old daughter perished in the family pool at his Tampa, Florida, home on April 30, 2023. Barrett made two Pro Bowls and played in 131 games (85 starts) across nine NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos (2014–18) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019–23), despite not being selected in the 2014 Colorado State draft. Over his career, he recorded 400 tackles (73 for loss), 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
With the Buccaneers in 2019, Barrett had his greatest season yet, leading the NFL in sacks (19.5) and earning a spot in his first Pro Bowl. He was nominated to the Pro Bowl again in 2021 after recording ten sacks. In 2015 as a rookie with the Broncos and again in 2020 with Tampa Bay, Barrett was the winner of two Super Bowls. In his 16 games as a starting quarterback for the Bucs in 2023, he recorded 52 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. In March, Barrett agreed to a $9 million, one-year contract with the Dolphins.
Leave a Reply