Arian Foster announces his retirement from the NFL
By David Rouben
Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster calls an end to his playing career, stating that his body can’t take the punishment this game asks for any longer.
Arian Foster is the perfect example of how a potentially great career got ravaged by injuries. In seven seasons with the Houston Texans, he only ever played 16 games twice. The Miami Dolphins knew how talented Foster is when healthy, and signed him, hoping he would star as their featured back. When he got hurt again, Jay Ajayi took over the starting position, and after two straight 200-yard performances, Foster is officially an afterthought.
That’s why, in the middle of the season and at the age of 30, Arian Foster officially announced his retirement from the game:
BREAKING NEWS: @ArianFoster announces his retirement on UNINTERRUPTED. His story on why he’s walking away. pic.twitter.com/FK09XpkqUo
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) October 25, 2016
He cited the numerous health problems that troubled him throughout his career by saying “my body can’t take the punishment this game asks for any longer.” He would have brushed it off in the past, but it has finally caught up to him. In his last season with the Texans, Foster only played four games.
But despite all that, he set numerous franchise records in Houston. Most notable among them is most career rushing yards (6,472), rushing touchdowns (54), rushing yards in a single season (1,616), and rushing touchdowns in a single season (16). He achieved those last two milestones in just his second year in the NFL.
Jay Ajayi did something only three other running backs have done when he rushed for 200 yards two weeks in a row. It helped propel the Dolphins to back-to-back wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills after they started 1-4. As a player, the Dolphins have no need for Foster, but they surely enjoyed his presence in the locker room so it wouldn’t be surprising if Miami tries to keep Foster involved in a team ambassador role.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best RB of All-Time
While players like Peyton Manning or Ray Lewis are able to ride into the sunset as a Super Bowl winner in their last season, those instances are few and far between. Most people leave the game as a “faceless gladiator.” But for all that Foster has accomplished in his career, it’s safe to say he’s not one of those. Ultimately, he should walk away knowing that he made the right decision.