Steelers S Troy Polamalu retires after 12 seasons in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has informed team owner Dan Rooney that he has decided to retire from football.
“It’s all about family,” Polamalu said in a phone interview with the Uniontown Herald-Standard. “I live here in Pittsburgh now, and since the end of the season I’ve had a chance to enjoy my family on a level I never had before. It was awesome.”
Polamalu had two years left on his contract and the Steelers gave the eight-time Pro Bowler, who carried an $8.25-million cap hit for 2015, time to contemplate his future after this past season.
They reportedly talked to Polamalu about retiring in February, but he resisted until this week. He dealt with a sprained knee ligament last season but believed he could still continue playing.
“I did not seriously consider playing elsewhere,” Polamalu said. “It was just whether or not I wanted to play. I had talked to a lot of people about what I should do with my situation, and what they kept saying back to me, and which was not a sufficient reason, was ‘Troy, you played 12 years in the NFL, you won Super Bowls, won individual awards. There’s nothing left to prove. You have a legacy.’ And I just kept saying, ‘First of all, I don’t care about a legacy. Second of all, I play the game because I enjoy it.’ That’s the reason to keep playing.
Polamalu played nine games last season before a knee injury forced him to miss four of the last seven games. He returned and recorded eight tackles in the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The 33-year-old told Scout.com he didn’t consider playing for any other team.
“I did not seriously consider playing elsewhere,” Polamalu said. “It was just whether or not I wanted to play. I had talked to a lot of people about what I should do with my situation, and what they kept saying back to me, and which was not a sufficient reason, was ‘Troy, you played 12 years in the NFL, you won Super Bowls, won individual awards. There’s nothing left to prove. You have a legacy.’ And I just kept saying, ‘First of all, I don’t care about a legacy. Second of all, I play the game because I enjoy it.’ That’s the reason to keep playing.
“Like I said, what it came down to was definitely family. If I’m in my fourth year, fifth year, even if I’m in my 10th year, I’m playing in Alaska. But when I started this process and started to debate whether I should come back or should I play, that was kind of the sign for me to say ‘Whoa, if you’re just even debating it maybe you shouldn’t play anymore,’ because what I do know about this game is it takes a lot –a lot – of commitment just to be an average player.”
Polamalu finishes his 12-year career after appearing in 158 regular-season games, 15 playoff games and three Super Bowls. He made 710 tackles, 12 sacks, intercepted 35 passes, forced 13 fumbles, recovered seven fumbles, scored four touchdowns and won two championships.
OBVIOUSLY NOT PEYTON. NONETHELESS, I WILL MISS WATCHING TROY POLAMALU PLAY. A CLASS ACT AND ARGUABLY THE BEST SAFETY EVER!
