Linebacker Shaquil Barrett, a member of two Super Bowl championship teams, announced his retirement after nine NFL seasons on Saturday.
Barrett, 31, won the big game in 2016 with the Denver Broncos and also in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It’s time for me to step down,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s been a great adventure and I’ve enjoyed every step of it. I’m ready to fully turn my attention to my wife and children, to help them achieve their dreams.”
“Some will be surprised, but I have been thinking about it for some time now. The decision has never seemed clearer to me than now.”
Barrett was released by the Buccaneers in March of this year, then accepted an offer from the Miami Dolphins. The latter will soon begin their camp, but Barrett has chosen another path.
Undrafted out of Colorado State, Barrett joined the Broncos in 2015. He totaled 14 sacks in four seasons with the Broncos, including the championship-winning 2015 season. He had five and a half sacks that campaign.
Barrett was unstoppable in his first season with the Bucs, leading the NFL with 19 1/2 sacks in 2019.
At the end of the 2020 season, he had three sacks in the AFC Championship Game in Green Bay.
He provided another in the Super Bowl, where Tampa Bay won 31-9 against Kansas City.
Barrett totaled 59 sacks and 400 tackles. He also had three interceptions and caused 22 fumbles.