It’s heartbreaking: A very New York Jet player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters a heartfelt farewell.
One of the best players to ever don a New York Jets uniform, Darrelle Revis, is ending his playing career.
The 11-year-old veteran, who spent eight seasons as a player for the Jets before winning his lone Super Bowl with the Patriots, made the announcement of his retirement on social media on Wednesday morning.
Revis was one of the best cornerbacks in football for almost ten years. Because he could stop the best receiver on the other team one-on-one and because opposing quarterbacks seldom threw to him, his side of the field was known as Revis Island due to his great regard for his abilities.
His time with the Jets was convoluted and occasionally turbulent. However, Revis will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
For the past eleven years, it has been a true honor to give the world one of my greatest gifts. Revis wrote on social media, “I am ending this chapter of my life today.” “In the future, I am excited to investigate new prospects across a range of industries. Revis Island, farewell.”
Along with his retirement, the Jets’ CEO Christopher Johnson, head coach Todd Bowles, and general manager Mike Maccagnan all released the following statements:
Revis, who is 33 years old, was cut in the first few months of 2017 after a miserable second stint with the Jets. He missed most of the previous season before joining Kansas City in late November, and he looked like a shadow of the dominant player he once was.
Even so, he ends up being among the best players to have ever played his position. Seven Pro Bowls, four First Team All-Pro selections, 29 interceptions, and 140 passes defensed in 145 games were among his career stats. In addition, he earned over $124 million during his 11-year NFL career, more than any other cornerback in history.
At some point, he will surely be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Since Revis was chosen with the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Pittsburgh, things have not gone well between him and the Jets.
His talent was immediately apparent. Revis was given a starting gig as a rookie and went on to become one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He led the Jets to the AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010. But beneath the surface, there was always conflict over his contract.
But beneath the surface, there was always financial strain.
Even as a rookie, Revis missed a chunk of the preseason due to a contract dispute. And as his career progressed, he continually asked the Jets for more money. Things took a terrible turn before the 2010 season when Revis declined to sign in September, about a week before the season started. For 35 days, he refused.
