Ndamukong Suh officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday. The defensive tackle's announcement was timed to commemorate a year passing since his father died.
"Every snap I took in football carried his fingerprint," Suh wrote on social media. "Every time I lined up across from someone, I could hear his voice pushing me, reminding me that I wasn’t just representing myself. I was representing him, my family, my name."
"Before he passed, he gave me one final piece of advice, 'It’s time to let football go. You’ve done everything you set out to do. Now it’s time for the next chapter,'" he added.
The No. 2 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Nebraska, Suh played 13 seasons in the league.
In his first season, he notched 10 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 66 total tackles, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He was named first-team All-Pro three times and earned five Pro Bowl berths. Suh played in three Super Bowls and won a championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.
Throughout his career, Suh also played for the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. He last played in the NFL during the 2022 season.
When he left the Lions to sign with the Dolphins as a free agent, Suh became the highest-paid defensive player in the league at that point, agreeing to a six-year, $114 million contract.
Suh also attracted controversy throughout his career for his aggressive play, drawing several fines and suspensions. Notably, he was suspended in 2011 for pushing Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith's head into the groundmultiple times and stomping on his arm. He drew another suspension three seasons later for stepping on Aaron Rodgers' calf, though that was eventually reduced to a fine on appeal.
As could be expected from a top draft selection, Suh had a highly decorated college career. He finished as a finalist for the 2009 Heisman Trophy, while winning the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award, and was honored as the AP College Football Player of the Year as a senior.
Based on his announcement, Suh doesn't plan on a quiet retirement out of the public spotlight. He's built an investment portfolio while regularly consulting with Warren Buffett and says he intends to share what he's learned with others to help them manage money. Suh recently launched a podcast, titled "No Free Lunch," to discuss investment and wealth management strategies.
"Freedom doesn’t come from fame, it comes from knowledge and how you move," Suh said in his retirement announcement.
