New York (AFP) – Ndamukong Suh, a Super Bowl champion defensive tackle who played 13 NFL seasons, announced his official retirement from the league in a social media post on Saturday. The 38-year-old American has not played in the NFL since the 2022 playoffs for Philadelphia, serving as a television analyst.
Suh, the son of a Jamaican mother and Cameroonian father, posted a message on social media noting the one-year anniversary of his father’s death, calling it the hardest day of his life. “He wasn’t just a dad. He was my idol, my coach, and my anchor. He taught me what it meant to be disciplined, focused, and relentless in everything I do. Every snap I took in football carried his fingerprint,” Suh wrote on X.
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“Before he passed, he gave me one final piece of advice, ‘It’s time to let football go. You’ve done everything you set out to do. Now it’s time for the next chapter.’ That conversation stayed with me. So today, one year later, I’m honoring that wish. I’m officially retiring from the NFL.”
Suh was the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by Detroit and won the 2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He also played for Miami, the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia in his final campaign in 2022. Suh helped Tampa Bay win the 2021 Super Bowl over Kansas City and was a five-time Pro Bowl all-star player.
“I have so many memories to cherish,” Suh posted. “I left it all on the field, and now I’m stepping away with peace and gratitude. Because I’ve been preparing for this moment for years. Football was my passion, but it was never my endgame. My next season is about impact, purpose, and legacy. About helping others build wealth, lead with intention, and create lasting freedom.”
“I’ve lived. I’ve learned. I’ve built. I’ve failed. I’ve succeeded. And now I want to share what I’ve learned; especially with athletes, entrepreneurs, and young people navigating life and money.”
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