Steelers’ Troy Polamalu Retires

“Since the end of the season I’ve had a chance to enjoy my family on a level that I never had before. It was awesome,” Polamalu continued in the Herald-Standard of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. “Thank God football has provided me the ability to be able to sit back and see what the options are. But I’ll definitely be the best father I can be.”

Polamalu told the Steelers on Wednesday night about his decision and was very grateful for everything they did for him in 12 seasons.

Polamalu added with a laugh, “Maybe it was a sign for me to retire when I chase my kids around and couldn’t catch them. It was either a sign for me to retire or a sign for them to begin training.”

Polamalu had two years left on his contract and was a first-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2003. He was also a member of two Super Bowl championship teams and made eight Pro Bowls.

“Troy is a shining example of a football man in the way he loved the game, the way he respected the game and the way he played the game,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a team-issued statement. “It’s a shining example of the window into who he is. He is a legendary Steeler and a legendary man. I congratulate him and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”