‘ISLAND’ STOPPER
Ex-Jet Revis retiring after stellar 11-year career
Darrelle Revis is leaving the island at last.
The former star cornerback took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce his retirement after an 11-year career that included four All-Pro nods — three of them with the Jets — and a Super Bowl ring with the 2014 Patriots.
“For the past 11 years, it has truly been an honor to showcase one of my greatest gifts to the world,” Revis wrote. “Today I am closing a chapter in my life that I once dreamed of as a kid and I am officially retiring from the National Football League. 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 honor within this game we all love.
“I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, and mentors who have made a significant impact in my life and helped to create amazing memories that my family and I will cherish for a lifetime. I’m excited as to what lies ahead as I pursue new ventures in different industries. “Long live Revis Island.” The proprietor of that metaphorical island was a first-round draft pick (14th overall) in 2007 by the Jets and made an instant impact as a coverage demon. Usually charged with handling an opponent’s top receiver, Revis often forced offenses to change their game plans 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.”
Revis, 33, had 29 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder against the Dolphins. In 2009, Revis was beaten out by Charles Woodson for defensive player of the year honors.
“That season, he was far and away the most dominant player in the NFL on defense; that he never got [defensive] MVP that year, people are crazy,” said Ryan, now an analyst for ESPN. “The impact this guy had, and on the best defense in the league, I thought he should have won that.”
Revis excelled against the best, taking the likes of Terrell Owens and Steve Smith out of the game with his coverage. After a particularly lopsided first-half matchup with Smith, who was with the Panthers, the receiver asked Ryan to “get this guy off me.”
“That ain’t going to happen,” Ryan told Smith.
Revis played just five games with the Chiefs last season, struggling to find a home after a 2016 season in which he looked like a shell of himself. The Jets re-signed Revis following the 2014 season, inking him to a deal that included $39 million guaranteed. That contract was quickly proven folly.
Still, Jets fans will have fond memories of Revis throughout two straight runs to the AFC title game in 2009 and 2010.
Ryan predicted that Revis would be walking into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2023.
“He dominated every matchup,” Ryan said. “He was simply the best.”