Linebacker Shaquil Barrett announced his sudden retirement on social media Saturday, just four months after joining the Miami Dolphins in free agency and days before the start of the team’s training camp.
In an Instagram post, Barrett stated, “It’s time for me to hang it up. It’s been a great ride, and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to focus entirely on my wife and kids and helping them achieve their dreams.”
Barrett admitted that his retirement might come as a surprise to some, but he emphasized that the decision had been on his mind for a while and was now clear.
His unexpected retirement marks the end of a 10-year career that included stints with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won Super Bowls with both teams.
At 31, Barrett began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent from Colorado State, signing with the Broncos in 2014. He didn’t play in his rookie season but made the team in 2015, contributing significantly during the Broncos’ Super Bowl run by starting six games.
Barrett continued as a rotational linebacker with Denver until he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. There, he had a breakout season with a league-high 19.5 sacks, earning second-team All-Pro honors and finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. This sack total was more than he had accumulated in his entire five-year tenure with Denver and remains a franchise record for the Bucs.
He demonstrated that his breakout season was not a fluke by recording 8 sacks in 2020 and playing a crucial role in the Bucs’ Super Bowl victory, including three sacks of Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Championship Game and another sack of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Barrett’s strong performance earned him a four-year, $72 million extension in 2021, which he validated with a 10-sack season and his second Pro Bowl selection. However, a torn Achilles tendon in Week 8 of the 2022 season ended his year early, and although he returned for 16 games in 2023, his effectiveness declined. He was released by the Bucs in February as a cost-saving measure.
Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht commented on Barrett’s release, saying, “Shaq’s contributions to the Buccaneers both on and off the field these past five seasons have been extraordinary, and he will be missed by many in and around the organization. His leadership, work ethic, and dedication to the game were unmatched, and his courage last season was truly inspirational. We are grateful for his time in Tampa.”
Leave a Reply