Former Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison Announces Retirement From The NFL!


Today is a very sad day in not only NFL, but football history in general with the announcement by five-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison that he will be retiring from the game of football.

Harrison played 10 of his 11 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played his final season with the Steelers longtime rival Cincinnati Bengals last year. Even visiting with the Arizona Cardinals just a few days ago before making an official announcement earlier today through his Facebook page that he would be retiring.

“I have made the difficult decision to retire as of today, ” read the statement on his page. “My love for my family and the need to be there for them outweighs my desire to play the game. I have missed too many experiences with them because I devoted SO much time to my career. My love for the game isn’t strong enough to make up for missing one birthday or first day of school. I am retiring as a man who is truly grateful for all of his blessings. I am sincerely thankful to the people who have supported me over the years, first and foremost my family, the Rooney family and my Steeler family, also Mr. Brown, the Bengals organization and fans, and last but FAR from least, Steeler Nation. Thank you.”

The 36-year-old Harrison entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2002 out of Akron before signing with the Steelers where he played most of his career. He was cut multiple times early in his career before settling with the team though, as a rarely used backup for four seasons. Finally becoming a starter and star at the age of 29, he would become a first-team All-Pro twice to go along with his five Pro Bowl selections and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award honor.

You could easily argue that Harrison was one of the main cogs for the Steelers linebacking core of most of the 2000‘s, which was a huge part in helping those teams defense help the Steelers reach three Super Bowls. Two of which they won and that Harrison was one of the most memorable, revered and feared players on those defenses. A team defense, which also for most of the 2000’s was almost very reminiscent to their Steel Curtain glory days of the 70s because of how hard-nosed, tough and physical Harrison and most of the defense played the game like their 70s counterparts.

Many will probably also remember Harrison for his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown ironically enough against the Cardinals in the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII victory.

While Harrison was one of the most feared, hard-nosed, tough and physically revered players of his generation and in his prime, ultimately his peak came too short and will probably make him miss just being a Hall of Fame player.

Either way his loss is still a huge one for the league and with his retirement the league becomes that much more softer, as well as closer to getting away from the more physical, tough and hard-nosed NFL most of us loved so much growing up.

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