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Saying goodbye to football and the millions of dollars that come with it is never easy. However, there comes a time when a player's productivity has dropped off or they have sustained so many injuries that they look like a shell of their former self. In many cases, it's both.
With the 2023 regular season recently concluding, it's time to look ahead to which defensive players could call it quits this offseason. These players are not locks to retire, but it's becoming increasingly more likely after a down year or two.
Below, we'll dive into the careers of five NFL veterans on the defensive side of the ball and discuss the reason for their inclusion on this list. Let's dive in.
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Chandler Jones, Edge - Free Agent
Since entering the NFL in 2012 as a first-round pick out of Syracuse, Chandler Jones has been a problem for opposing offensive tackles. After logging a modest six sacks as a rookie, Jones totaled 11.5 sacks as a sophomore, which would be his first of seven double-digit sack seasons.
Chandler Jones has 99.0 career sacks, and 63.0 in 70 career games in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/tMsKrxxu1u
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 12, 2021
The 33-year-old is a Super Bowl Champion, four-time Pro Bowler, and is tied with Justin Houston for the 26th-most sacks of all-time (112).
Unfortunately, his star career could be coming to an end after an ugly breakup with the Raiders. He logged just 4.5 sacks in 2022 – his worst single-season total in campaigns in which he played at least 11 games. He was released by the team before the start of the 2023 campaign after some off-the-field drama, and he might want to retire to focus on life after football.
Jason Pierre-Paul, Edge - Free Agent
Jason Pierre-Paul has three Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl rings to his name. He's 54th all-time with 94.5 sacks, and he notably recovered from a firework accident that caused him to have his right index finger amputated.
The 35-year-old excelled early, racking up 16.5 sacks in his second year as a pro en route to his first Super Bowl victory with the New York Giants. That would prove to be his career-high, but he'd stick around as a disruptive edge rusher for the next decade-plus.
Bucs DE Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a fractured neck in May.
Today, he made his season debut and got a sack on his first snap.
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/cvPt2q1Mn2
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 27, 2019
However, he hasn't logged more than three sacks in a given season since 2020 when he compiled 9.5 sacks to help Tom Brady and the Buccaneers win a ring. This season, he appeared in one game for the New Orleans Saints and two games for the Miami Dolphins totaling two combined tackles and zero sacks. He was released by Miami in December.
You can't take anything away from the Florida native's career, but it looks like the end of the road.
Justin Houston, Edge - Miami Dolphins
Justin Houston just signed with the Miami Dolphins on January 9, meaning it's a good time to reflect on his excellent career. Houston began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and spent eight seasons there, forming an all-start edge-rushing duo with Tamba Hali. He then spent two seasons with the Colts and Ravens, respectively, before ending up in Carolina in 2023. After seven games and just half a sack with Carolina, he was released. Although he's now with Miami, the end could be near.
That said, Houston logged 9.5 of his 112 career sacks in 2022 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. The four-time Pro Bowler was productive last season, but aging players can hit a wall quickly and without warning. Is Houston officially washed, or did he just not fit in Carolina's defense? Time will tell, but he's clearly a candidate to hang it up ahead of the 2024 NFL season. He turns 35 on January 21.
THE AGELESS @JHouston50!!
Tune in now on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/vdZHempxUQ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 8, 2022
Josh Norman, CB - Buffalo Bills
Josh Norman, a 36-year-old cornerback, is impressively still in the NFL. It's common for defensive backs to fall off a cliff and be out of the league soon after age 30, so the fact that he's playing in his 12th NFL season is nothing short of special.
Josh Norman Interception and "Bow & Arrow" Penalty pic.twitter.com/myAckO05J2
— The BnG® (@PhilipHughesNFL) October 2, 2016
However, the one-time Pro Bowler has played in just five games over the last two years, compiling 12 tackles, no passes defended, and no interceptions. The Coastal Carolina alum was a star for the Carolina Panthers, but he has never lived up to the five-year, $75 million deal with signed with the Washington Redskins after the 2015 season.
If he wants to continue to collect practice squad paycheck, you can't blame him. Given his age and current role with Buffalo, this might be his final run as a professional football player. If so, he'll finish his career with 501 tackles, 20 forced fumbles, 16 interceptions, three touchdowns, and 88 passes defended.
Jason Verrett, CB - San Francisco 49ers
Jason Verrett entered the league in 2014 and quickly earned Pro Bowl honors in his second season. He looked like he'd begun a long career of high-end cornerback play, but injuries have plagued him from start to finish.
Heading into his first season (2014), he was recovering from a torn labrum. He was healthy in 2014 and 2015, but in 2016, he suffered a torn ACL. In 2017, he played in one game before suffering another knee injury, ending his season. In training camp heading into 2018, he tore his Achilles, ending that season before it started. He did not play in a game in 2018 or 2019.
When he returned in 2020 to play for the San Francisco 49ers, he played in 13 games, logging 60 tackles and two interceptions. Unfortunately, the injury misfortune continued and he was placed on Injured Reserve due to an ankle injury. In 2021, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 1, ending that season. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. He suffered another Achilles tear in 2022. And last but not least, he was on the 49ers roster this season but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on January 5.
"I hope he hangs around here because we all love him around."
Kyle Shanahan details Jason Verrett's season-ending shoulder injury 💔 pic.twitter.com/5L72fLWnq7
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) January 6, 2024
Not much needs to be said with this one. He needs to retire.
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