On April 10, 2020, NFL safety Troy Polamalu announced his retirement from football after 12 seasons. Polamalu played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest safeties in NFL history. So why was this future Hall of Famer forced to retire?
The answer seems to lie in a combination of age and injuries. Polamalu will turn 41 years old in December 2020, and he has dealt with a number of injuries over the course of his career. Most recently, he missed eight games during the 2019 season due to a calf injury.
This obviously took a toll on his body, and it seems that he simply can’t recover from these injuries like he used to.
In addition, the Steelers have been moving in a different direction lately. They drafted safety Minkah Fitzpatrick last year, and they seem content with him as their starter going forward.
With Polamalu’s age and injury history, it’s understandable that the team would want to move on from him.
Troy Polamalu was one of the best safeties in the NFL for many years. He was a 8-time Pro Bowler and helped the Steelers win 2 Super Bowls. However, injuries began to take their toll on him in recent years and he was forced to retire at age 34.
Polamalu had a number of serious injuries, including concussions, Achilles tendon tears, and neck injuries. These injuries limited his effectiveness on the field and led to him missing significant time over the past few seasons.
The Steelers decided that it was time for Polamalu to hang up his cleats after another injury-plagued season in 2015.
They wanted to give him a chance to walk away from the game on his own terms and not be forced out by an injury.
Polamalu will go down as one of the great safeties in NFL history. He was a big part of the Steelers’ success over the past decade and will be missed by fans and teammates alike.
Did the Steelers Force Polamalu to Retire?
No, the Steelers did not force Polamalu to retire. In fact, they offered him a contract extension before he ultimately decided to retire. Polamalu was one of the most decorated safeties in NFL history and will go down as one of the greatest Steelers of all time.
When Did Troy Polamalu Quit Playing Football?
Troy Polamalu, one of the greatest safeties to ever play football, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on April 10, 2020. Polamalu played 12 seasons in the NFL, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted 16th overall by the Steelers in 2003 and went on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career.
Polamalu was an 8-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First Team All-Pro, and 2-time Second Team All-Pro. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and a key member of two Super Bowl winning teams (2005 & 2008). In his career, Polamalu tallied 770 tackles, 32 interceptions (4th most among active players when he retired), 14 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
While it’s always sad to see a legend like Polamalu retire, Steelers fans will always remember him as one of the best players in franchise history and one of the best defensive players of his generation.
What Did Troy Polamalu Do?
Troy Polamalu was a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003-2014. He was a 8 time Pro Bowl selection, and was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He helped the Steelers to win Super Bowl XL, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Who Did Troy Polamalu Retire?
On April 10, 2020, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. Polamalu was a first-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2003 and went on to become one of the most decorated and respected players in franchise history. He was named to eight Pro Bowls, was a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection, and was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
In total, Polamalu appeared in 171 regular season games with the Steelers, recording 750 tackles, 32 interceptions, 14 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. He also played in 20 playoff games, helping the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals.
Troy Polamalu Net Worth
Troy Polamalu is a retired American football player who has an estimated net worth of $45 million. He played his entire twelve-year career for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). During his time with the Steelers, he was selected to eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls.
Polamalu was born on April 19, 1981 in Garden Grove, California to Suaesi and Anna Polamalu. His father is of Samoan descent and his mother is of Russian ancestry. He attended Douglas High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he played football and ran track.
In 1999, he enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) where he played college football for the USC Trojans.
During his NFL career, Polamalu was considered one of the best safeties in the league. He was known for his ability to read plays and make tackles in open space.
In 2010, he was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press (AP). He retired from professional football in 2015 after twelve seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Since retiring from playing football, Troy Polamalu has become a spokesperson for several brands including Head & Shoulders shampoo, Procter & Gamble’s Pantene hair care products, and Nike’s Jordan Brand line of sneakers and apparel.
He has also appeared in television commercials for Comcast Xfinity and Nationwide Insurance. In 2019, Forbes estimated that Polamalu had earned $5 million from endorsements over the previous twelve months which brings his total net worth up to an estimated $45 million dollars.
Conclusion
Polamalu, who played his entire 12-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro. He was also the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year.
However, injuries began to take their toll on Polamalu in recent years.
He missed seven games in 2013 due to a concussion and knee injury, and he missed nine games in 2014 due to a hamstring injury. In total, Polamalu appeared in just 21 out of 48 possible regular season games over the last three years.
At 34 years old, Polamalu has decided to call it quits rather than risk further injury.
It’s a sad end for one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, but it’s probably the right decision given his health concerns.
