Lombardi Trophy (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

NFL linebacker Shaquil Barrett has announced his retirement from football, ending a career that saw him win two Super Bowls and make two Pro Bowl teams.

The 31-year-old seemed keen on playing an 11th season, having signed a deal with the Miami Dolphins in March. However, it appears he’s had a change of heart as he’s taken to social media to announce that he’s bringing the curtains down on his career.

“It’s time for me to hang it up,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “It’s been a great ride, and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize their dreams and catch ‘em. Anyone who caught their dreams before knows the work, time and consistency required to reach them. I’m ready to start building skills up in my kids, which will take 100 percent commitment. 

“I know to some it’ll be a surprise, but I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and the decision has never been more clear than it is now.”

Shaquil Barrett Carved Out An Impressive Career After Going Undrafted

Barrett came into the league undrafted after a standout stint at Colorado State, with the Denver Broncos picking him up. He didn’t play in his first season with the team but left with a Super Bowl win to his name five years later, making 14 sacks in 61 games.

He spent another five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the league in sacks in his first season with 19.5.

Shaquil Barrett helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl in 2020 before making his second Pro Bowl in 2021 after making his first in 2019. The player suffered an unthinkable tragedy last year when his two-year-old daughter passed away in a drowning incident.

We wish him the best in retirement.