Miami Dolphins running back and former Houston Texans great Arian Foster has announced his shock retirement from the NFL at the age of just 30.
With a powerful statement in which he thanked the sport and those who he's met throughout his career for everything they've given to him, Foster took to Uninterrupted to announce his decision to step away from the sport after eight extraordinary seasons.
BREAKING NEWS: @ArianFoster announces his retirement on UNINTERRUPTED. His story on why he’s walking away. pic.twitter.com/FK09XpkqUo
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) October 25, 2016
Foster wrote:
This game has been everything to me ... my therapy, my joy, my solace and my enemy. I've learned to love every facet of this game, from the peak of accomplishment to the gutter of criticism. And it all makes the ride worthwhile. I've been fortunate enough to play many successful years in this league. I've given a lot to this game and given up a lot for it. But it has returned to me more than I could have ever asked for.
Faceless gladiators have been shuffled in and out of this arena for decades and I'm proud to have taken part in that legacy. My father always said, 'You'll know when it's time to walk away.' It has never been more clear than right now. I'm walking away with peace. I know it's not commonplace to do it midseason, but my body just can't take the punishment this game asks for any longer. ... Every athlete would love to go out as a Super Bowl MVP, riding off into the sunset with the crowd cheering their name. Unfortunately, life has other plans and they're usually opposite the imagination. But that imagination got me this far and I could not be prouder of the things my teammates and I accomplished in this game.
I'd like to send a sincere thank you to all those who I've come in contact with throughout this journey. This is a beautifully violent game and the same reason I loved it is why I have to walk away. That bittersweet taste will forever linger with me, but on my next journey, I get to carry those memories with me. Hopefully. lol
He is, perhaps, the first athlete to ever conclude 'lol' as he announced his decision to step away from his craft, but the statement is beautifully penned nonetheless, and the concussion gag at the end simply reiterates the perils of the sport.
Foster had four seasons in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards during his spell at the Texans, scoring a franchise record 54 touchdowns during his spell at Houston. He ran for 6,572 total yards in his career, second-most by an undrafted running back in NFL history, behind Priest Holmes’ 8,172. In 2010, he ran for 1,616 yards - the most in a single season by an undrafted running back (as per Elias Sports Bureau).
Arian Foster had another lower body, soft-tissue injury. Injuries just piled up - too many. So after a great run, Arian Foster is retiring.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2016
Arian Foster entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Only one player, Adrian Peterson, had more TD's than him since that time.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 25, 2016
Arian Foster retires as one of the best undrafted running backs ever. A By the Numbers look at his careerhttps://t.co/owkdlSNLK4 pic.twitter.com/suceGJuEkr
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2016
