Oakland Raiders defensive end and two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck announced his retirement today after 11 seasons in the NFL. Tuck was on the New York Giants defensive line for nine seasons before playing his final two years in Oakland. He recorded 510 combined tackles, 66.5 sacks and 22 forced fumbles in his career, and has been one of the most dominant pass rushers the league has seen in the past decade.
"It's been like a tug of war, and finally the rope broke, and where I fell was retirement," said Tuck, via Fox Sports. "When I came in to this league, I remember telling 'Stray' [Michael Strahan], 'If I get 10 [years], I'm never coming back. He was like, 'Bro, listen, I said the same thing.' And sure enough, when I got to 10, I thought, 'I ain't done yet. Physically, I feel like I can play with the best of them. It's hilarious I got hurt on the most fluky play ever, but it's part of it and maybe that was God trying to tell me something. I'm looking forward to being able to do something else."
Tuck finished the 2015 season on injured reserve with a torn pectoral, but will be remembered for his great seasons as a leader on the Giants defense. Tuck recorded 5.5 sacks in the two playoff runs that helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011.
The Raiders are losing two NFL greats as free safety Charles Woodson already announced his retirement earlier in the season.
