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PITTSBURGH – Twin centers Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey have retired from the NFL, Ramon Foster, a former Maurkice teammate, announced on Twitter.
“It is an honor for me that my brothers from another have asked me to announce the next step in their life. After more than a decade @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey are retiring from @nfl,” tweeted Foster.
It is my honor that my brothers from another asked me to announce the next stage in their life. After more than a decade @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey retire from the @nfl 🤝. Below are their memos thanking those involved in their careers. #Steel #chargers #Miami #NFL pic.twitter.com/v9IALOrZaX
– Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) February 12, 2021
Maurkice was drafted 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 draft, while Mike finished 15th overall for the Miami Dolphins the following year. Both were instantly full-time starters for their teams, mostly in the center, although Mike spent a season in right guard in Miami.
“We started this journey at 6 and now at 31 we will close this chapter of our lives by announcing my retirement from @nfl and quitting the game,” Mike Pouncey said in a statement provided by Foster.
While Maurkice played 11 seasons with the Steelers, Mike spent 10 seasons between the Dolphins and Chargers after their college career in Florida. Mike’s final season ended in September when he was injured in reserve with hip surgery that ended the season. A year earlier, the quadruple Pro Bowler season ended early with a neck injury suffered in early October.
Maurkice Pouncey and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are close friends and have often vowed to play as long as each other. Each have a contract that spans the 2021 season, although Roethlisberger has not announced his intentions for the upcoming season. With his retirement, Pouncey leaves $ 6.475 million in cap space, but he saves the team $ 8 million in cap space.
The emotional moments Maurkice Pouncey spent with Roethlisberger on the bench after the Steelers’ January 10 playoff loss ended up being his last in the NFL.
“I love this guy,” Roethlisberger said after the season-ending loss. “He’s one of the best competitors and teammates I have ever had. It was so much fun sharing a football pitch with him. I hate that it ended like this. I just wanted to apologize to him . earn it for him. “
Nine-time Pro Bowler Maurkice Pouncey had told his teammates and relatives that he was seriously considering retiring since the Joker was defeated, sources told ESPN.
“I will always love football and will always be the ultimate competitor in life @nfl @steelers! I am not in love with the sacrifice football has on my life, my beautiful daughters Jayda, Marley and my family!” Maurkice Pouncey said in a statement provided by Foster.
A fiercely loyal teammate Maurkice Pouncey also missed two games in 2019 after being suspended for his role in the brawl with the Cleveland Browns while defending Mason Rudolph against Myles Garrett.
“You have a sense of people,” said Foster, a former offensive lineman, a year ago. “You know if someone isn’t for you. His thing is if you’re one of his teammates, he really loves and respects you.”
Pouncey’s departure creates a leadership vacuum over the Steelers’ attack. The two-time first-team All-Pro center was part of the squad that gave a fiery half-time speech in the Steelers’ Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, which helped turn around the second period.
“As I write this farewell speech, I cry and laugh that the Lakeland FL twins who grew up in poverty have managed to live this far in the life of NFL dreams,” Maurkice wrote.
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