Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers let Hines Ward go , the former Steelers wide receiver announced on Tuesday that instead of playing his 15th season with another team this year, he will be retiring.
Before Ward was let go from the Steelers earlier on in the month, the beloved football star said that he was adamant about sticking with the Steelers, and was willing to do whatever was necessary to stick with the team until his eventual retirement–but that didn’t happen.
Ward likely wouldn’t have too hard of a time getting a contract with another team, but the former Steelers player said that putting on another team’s jersey is “unfathomable”, and so he came to the decision to retire.
“Today, I’m officially retiring as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Ward said at a news conference, tearfully. “As much as I’ll miss football, my teammates, coaches and everything about the game, I don’t want to play in any other uniform. I will remain a Steeler for life.”
“To me it’s not about going out and playing one or two more years for another organization,” Ward added. “Deep down I know my heart wouldn’t be in it.”
What do you think of Hines Ward’s decision to retire from the NFL after he was released from the Pittsburgh Steelers?