Darrelle Revis announces his retirement
After 11 seasons in the NFL, former defensive back Darrelle Revis, is officially stepping away from the game.
Darrelle Revis has had enough of football. After 11 years in the battering arena, the former New York Jets standout announced his retirement via his Twitter account earlier on Wednesday.
"“For the past 11 years, it has truly been an honor to showcase one of my greatest gifts to the world,” Revis wrote on Instagram. “Today I am closing a chapter in my life that I once dreamed of as a kid and I am officially retiring from the National Football League. The game of football has opened doors for me I once thought were nearly impossible to get through. My passion to play the game at an elite level brought fun and excitement to the term ‘shutdown corner’ which was nearly on the verge of extinction. Covering some of the toughest assignments in league history was a challenge every Sunday, but also an honor within this game we all love.“I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and mentors who have made a significant impact in my life and helped to create amazing memories that my family and I will cherish for a lifetime. I’m excited as to what lies ahead as I pursue new ventures in different industries. Long live Revis Island.”"
Revis finished his NFL career with 494 tackles, 29 interceptions, six forced fumbles and two sacks. He was also named a First-Team All-Pro four times, and played in seven Pro Bowls.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Ed Reed is the only defensive back with more First-Team All-Pro selections than Revis over the last 20 seasons.
Not only was Revis a phenomenal football player, he was a great businessman. In 11 seasons, he earned over $124 million, and is the only defensive back to take home over $100 million in cash value since his rookie season.
Revis played in Tampa Bay for one season, before signing with the New England Patriots, where he won his only Super Bowl. He then returned to Gotham before finishing his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
Revis was one of the only perennial lockdown corners to ever play the game, creating “Revis Island.”
Brian Costello, New York Jets beat reporter for the New York Post and WFAN 660, had high praise for Revis moments after he announced his retirement, saying he never saw anyone practice as hard as Revis, comparing him to former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
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Former teammate Damien Woody agreed with Costello , stating he was the most dominating player he’s ever played with. This is coming from a former NFL player who spent his first five years with the New England Patriots and had Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Ty Law.
The next stop for Revis is Canton. Despite not playing as many seasons as most corners who are in the Hall and not collecting as many interceptions, Revis dominated in a much different era. He was able to excel on a consistent basis and faced more challenges in a modern league that is centered around offense and passing the ball.
Revis will forever be remembered as the best cover-corner of his generation, and as he stated in his letter, long live Revis Island.