Fansided

5 all-time great NFL players that need to retire after 2015

By John Buhler

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) walks off the field after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chiefs won 29-13. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) walks off the field after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chiefs won 29-13. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) kicks a field goal as punter Pat McAfee (1) holds in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) kicks a field goal as punter Pat McAfee (1) holds in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Adam Vinatieri: Indianapolis Colts Kicker

Adam Vinatieri will go down as the greatest clutch field goal kicker in NFL history whenever he decides to hang up the spikes. Vinatieri has won four Super Bowls kicking for the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. He’s Canton bound and will go in the Ring of Honor for both the Patriots and Colts organizations.

Though he did make his third Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in 2014, his Colts aren’t going anywhere in 2015 at 6-8 and a game back of the Houston Texans in the AFC South. Vinatieri is 42 years old and while kickers can play longer than non-special teamers, how much longer will he continue to suit up on Sundays?

The Colts have a roster full of over the hill veterans assembled by a general manager on the hot seat in Ryan Grigson, being coached by a man on the hot seat in Chuck Pagano, and playing for an eccentric owner like Jim Irsay. If Indianapolis should fall back to being an around-.500 team and not a serious contender for the Super Bowl the next few years, Vinatieri may save himself the trouble of playing on a mediocre team and just retire.

He doesn’t have anything left to prove to football fans, as he is already one of the five greatest kickers to ever play in the NFL. After seeing his fellow 40-year-old teammate quarterback Matt Hasselbeck take a beating under center in 2015, Vinatieri may think the idea of retiring is starting to not sound so bad after all.

Next: 3. Steve Smith, Sr.

Home/Baltimore Ravens