Darrelle Revis retires from NFL after 11 seasons

Darrelle Revis has decided to officially walk away from the game of football after 11 seasons, including one in Kansas City.

The National Football League officially watched a future Hall of Famer announce his retirement on Wednesday. With news that Darrelle Revis was walking away from the game he dominated for so long, the league can now essentially open a spot for him five years from now when he will undoubtedly be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Revis played 11 seasons in the NFL as an elite cornerback who was known as the very best in the game for most of his career. Revis Island was the nickname everyone gave to the longtime New York Jets cornerback, as even the great Tom Brady had issues playing against such a defensive giant.

On Wednesday, Revis announced his intention to retire from the game and that he was moving on to “new ventures in different industries.” Here’s the full statement.

Revis suited up for the Kansas City Chiefs last year as an exciting mid-season acquisition. General manager Brett Veach later explained that he’d been talking with Revis all season long, but he finally got him to sign on November 22—a two year deal worth $11 million. The reality was that it was a one-year tryout for an aging cornerback whose legacy was largely still informing his current reputation. Once he was on the field, Revis didn’t prove to be any better than the talent already in house for the Chiefs—a disappointing carousel of options who never claimed a starting corner spot.

The Chiefs decided to release Revis in February and it was assumed then that he might have played his final season in the NFL due to declining play. Revis wasn’t the same in his last season with the Jets as well in 2016, although injuries played a key part of that downfall.

Despite a drop in play these last two years, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Revis was a generational talent, a player who dominated receivers like few others in NFL history. The seven-time Pro Bowler ends his career with 29 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 2 sacks and 150 passes defended. More importantly, he forced quarterbacks to look elsewhere for the bulk of his career since teams would simply refuse to throw it to Revis in his prime on most Sundays.

Revis just turned 33-years-old earlier this month.