When It’s Time To Retire From The NFL

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Knowing when it’s time to retire from football can be the most important career decision of all time. It can save a few ligaments as well as quality years of an athlete’s life.

Brett Favre (1991 draft pick) is on the fence about whether to play this season. Terrell Owens (1996 draft pick) wants to play, but no one will sign the aging and volatile wide receiver. Junior Seau (1990 draft pick) announced his 2nd retirement in January of this year after coming back to play with the New England Patriots in 2006. Kickers are a different story since their bodies see limited action on the field and they can perform well into their 40s. Jeff Feagles retired after the 2009 season after 22 years of kicking while Morten Anderson played in his first NFL game in 1982 and played in his last game in 2007.

Sticking around the league to bring home a Super Bowl ring is one thing, but continuing to play for personal gains (stats, money, etc) is another thing.

Here’s my guide to help football players decide when it’s time to retire.

Retire If:

• You want to eat dinner at 4:15 in the afternoon.
• You can’t decide whether to take your vitamins or a morning nap after breakfast.
• Your teammates compliment your snake skin shoes in the locker room, but you’re barefoot.
• You start preaching the benefits of fiber and “being regular” to the rookies at training camp.
• It takes longer to catch your breath on the sidelines than it does to get tired on the field.
• Your team makes a contract with the state of Alaska to import ice to the training facility.
•  You got a hole-in-one on the golf course, but someone else had to tell you about it.
• Al Davis has just left you a voicemail telling you that you can turn his Raiders around.
• You have the opportunity to replace Chris Berman.
• There’s a handicap space available for you at your home stadium.
• You’re a QB and the hand towel has more drool on it than sweat.