Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb /USA TODAY Sports
While rumors have been flying around for some time, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Steve Smith Sr. has announced that after the 2015 season, he will be retiring. Smith is 36 years old and is a seasoned veteran in the NFL, about to complete his fifteenth season in the league.
Before settling down with the Ravens, Smith was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 2001 draft in the 3rd round. Smith was the 74th overall pick, but from the way that he played, he could have easily been a much earlier pick. Smith continued to play for the Carolina Panthers for 12 years and in that time, he received more than his fair share of accolades. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, first & second team all-pro, has participated in one Super bowl and won the NFL’s prestigious Comeback Player of the Year award in 2005.
While Smith has many accolades off the field, he has accomplished many feats on the playing field. Over his 14 seasons in the NFL, Smith has racked up 915 receptions, 13,262 receiving yards, and 73 touchdowns.
Smith shared the news via his twitter, saying “sometimes its better to walk away when you hear that voice talking to you, then to wait and they push you out the door.” which included a picture of Smith below with the words “Feels like it’s time.” After the Ravens training camp on Monday, Smith spoke to the media and laid it all out for them, “I’m going to retire after this, go home and be a dad and look back and enjoy things.” Though Smith knows he could play for a few more years, it is clear he is ready to give up his day job of being a professional football player and focus more on his family.
