The all-time player in Gators who was retired has just announced his return to the team and the team is…

The all-time player in Gators who was retired has just announced his return to the team and the team is…

Joe Haden worked out all offseason and appeared to be waiting on the exact right fit before signing a new contract. Haden is good friends with Stefon Diggs and Von Miller, and both were trying to convince him to come to Buffalo.

But this week, Haden chose to retire at the age of 33 and after 12 seasons in the National Football League, choosing Tupac to soundtrack a video announcing his decision.

I don’t think people know what a terrific athlete he was and what a successful career he had. In fact, when considering his entire career in Gainesville and the NFL, Haden may be the best defensive back in Gators history.

 

Haden was a standout quarterback in high school in Maryland who aspired to play offensive in college.

When Urban Meyer signed him in 2007 after Florida won the national championship in 2006, his route to early playing time was blocked at quarterback by Tim and in the slot by Percy.

Haden wanted to get on the field and agreed to switch to cornerback. He had just been Florida’s first true freshman to start at cornerback in the season opener. In 2007, he started 12 games and earned Freshman All-American honors.

His sophomore season was the breakthrough campaign that propelled him to superstardom.

Haden preserved his best for the biggest games. In the SEC Championship Game, Haden had an interception and led Florida in tackles.

And in the BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma, which every Gator alive remembers for Major Wright’s crushing sideline blow early in the game and Ahmad Black’s fingertip interception, Haden’s consistency once again led the way, with a team-high 10 tackles and two passes defended.

Haden is not among the Gators all-time interceptions leaders, either for a career or a single season, in part because he left for the NFL after his junior season and in part because teams didn’t want to throw in his direction — Fred Weary’s 15 career picks and Keiwan Ratliff’s nine in 2003 top the UF record books, and Haden’s eight in his career clearly pale in comparison.