Giants’, Raiders’ DE Justin Tuck announces retirement
Amid the buzz of the first day of Super Bowl 50 week came a bit of news: defensive end Justin Tuck announced his retirement after 11 seasons.
A two-time Super Bowl champion during his nine seasons with the New York Giants who finished his career with the Oakland Raiders the last two years, Tuck posted his thoughts via a Facebook post.
Tuck wrote:
After months of praying and careful consideration, I have decided to retire from the game of football. I’ve had 11 great years and honestly I leave with very few regrets.
I’m thankful to my family and close friends for their unwavering support. My beautiful wife and kids have dedicated their lives to being my closest support system and I’m eternally grateful.
I want to thank the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders for giving me a place I could call home all of these years. The Mara, Tisch, and Davis families, I’m forever in your debt. To my coaches: thanks for having me ready at every stage – the Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, you name it – thank you for teaching me about professionalism, preparation, and the pursuit of perfection. To my teammates: thank you for always going to battle with me each and every gameday, but more importantly, thanks for being my brothers for life.
And lastly, the FANS. What an incredible environment you’ve created for me over the years to call a workplace. You all have been so supportive of me and my family, and without you I would have no game to play. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This isn’t a good-bye, my family and I will continue our charitable work with Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy and we look forward to continuing to give back to communities that have given so much to us. God Bless.
A two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2008, Tuck was a force in Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants ended the Patriots’ pursuit of an undefeated season. He was credited with two sacks that night, but was frequently pressuring Tom Brady.
Though Eli Manning was named the MVP of that Super Bowl, it easily could have been Tuck, a sentiment shared by former teammate Michael Strahan.
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“The MVP of Super Bowl XLII was Justin Tuck. Not to take anything away from Eli but what Tuck did was absolutely amazing,” Strahan told Fox Sports 1’s Mike Garafolo.
When the Patriots and Giants met again in the Super Bowl four years later, Tuck was again a big part of the win for New York, with two more sacks plus pestering Brady into a first-quarter safety when the quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.
For his 147-game career, Tuck had 66.5 sacks and 20 forced fumbles; in 10 playoff games, he added 5.5 more sacks.
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