Revis ends ‘amazing’ career by signing one-day deal with New York Jets
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Darrelle Revis officially shut down his dominant playing career by signing one final contract.
The seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback who routinely frustrated opposing receivers with his blanketlike coverage officially retired Tuesday as a member of the New York Jets — the team with which Revis spent eight of his 11 National Football League seasons.
The 33-year-old Revis inked a one-day deal with the Jets at a ceremonial news conference at the team’s facility after he announced last Thursday on social media that he was finished playing.
Former teammates, including D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and several current players attended, along with owner Christopher Johnson, general manager
Mike Maccagnan and coach
Todd Bowles.
“It’s been amazing,” Revis said of his career. “My work ethic and my study habits I feel propelled me to strive to be one of the greatest. It took a lot of work, week in and week out, to prepare and play at the highest level and covering some of the toughest receivers in the world.”
He was known for his uncanny ability to shut down receivers and the nickname “Revis Island” grew in popularity as receivers were routinely left “stranded” without being much of a factor in games because of the cornerback’s air-right coverage.
In a clever nod to the nickname, the Jets set up a makeshift “island” outside of the facility’s main entrance, complete with sand dunes and three small palm trees and had Revis pose in front of it for photos.
The team also issued green lapel pins that read “REVIS ISLAND” at the top with the Jets logo on the bottom and Revis’ familiar No. 24 featured in the middle in front of a small island.
“As I look at it now and as I take some time to really assess what I’ve done and what really happened, it’s amazing, it’s amazing,” Revis said. “You leave a legacy behind that players can follow, they can mimic and they can study your film, too.”
Revis also gained notoriety for his business savvy at the bargaining table and made more than US$120 million in his career.