Star CB Darrelle Revis retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL
Revis Island is closed for business.
Darrelle Revis, a star cornerback with the New York Jets and a Super Bowl winner with their archrivals, the New England Patriots, has retired.
Revis announced Wednesday on social media that he was ending an 11-season career that included four All-Pro selections.
“Today, I am closing a chapter in my life that I once dreamed of as a kid,” Revis wrote.
“The game of football has opened doors for me I once thought were nearly impossible to get through. My passion to play the game at an elite level brought fun and excitement to the term ’shutdown corner’ which was nearly on the verge of extinction.
“Covering some of the toughest assignments in league history was a challenge every Sunday, but also an honour ...
“Long Live Revis Island.”
The proprietor of that place was a first-round draft pick (14th overall) by the Jets in 2007 who made an instant impact as a coverage demon. Usually charged with handling an opponent’s top receiver, Revis, now 33, often forced offences to change their game plan to avoid him.
His skills even allowed Rex Ryan, a renowned defensive coordinator before joining the Jets as head coach, to try new schemes that befuddled the opposition.
“When I had him, obviously Darrelle was in the prime of his career, and there wasn’t anybody close to him,” Ryan said Wednesday. “Maybe Deion (Sanders) in his prime, but that would be the only guy.
“Darrelle could handle anybody. I don’t care if it’s Hall of Fame guys, he locked them down and covered them and it wasn’t even close.”
He had 29 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder against Miami.