Shaquil Barrett was one of the Denver Mustangs’ undrafted examples of overcoming adversity. Then, in free agency, he moved to Tampa Bay, where he became one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
He was named to the Pro Bowl twice, led the league in sacks in 2019, and he helped Tampa Bay defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Furthermore, only days before he was set to start instructional course with the Miami Dolphins, the 31-year-old veteran hung up his spikes. On Saturday, Barrett posted an announcement about his retirement on Instagram. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Barrett stated in an Instagram statement, “I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize [their] dreams and catch ’em.” “Anyone who has achieved their dreams in the past is aware of the effort, persistence, and time required to do so. “I’m prepared to fire developing them abilities in my children, which will take 100 percent responsibility.” The nine NFL seasons Shaquil Barrett spent there were a dream come true—and an extremely unlikely one at that. His most memorable school program, Nebraska-Omaha, shut down football after his rookie time of 2010. Following that, Barrett transferred to Colorado State, where he went on to record 18 sacks over the course of three seasons and was named defensive player of the year by the Mountain West Conference. However, Barrett was not chosen. He was signed by the Broncos, but as a rookie, they kept him on the practice squad. In 2015, he made his debut and started six games while Demarcus Ware battled a sluggish back. Barrett was known for making big plays. In 2015, during the Broncos’ run to Super Bowl 50, he had 5.5 sacks and forced four fumbles. However, despite Barrett’s ability in high-leverage situations, the Broncos resisted offering him a permanent starting position. At the point when Product resigned after 2015, the Horses made plans for 2015 first-round pick Shane Beam as the starter inverse Von Mill operator. Barrett remained on the first team for six games until Ray returned due to a camp injury. The Broncos selected Bradley Chubb with the fifth overall pick in the offseason that followed. With Chubb joining Miller, who was in the middle third of the 6-year contract he signed five months after winning Super Bowl 50, the selection effectively made it impossible for Barrett to ever become a full-time starter in Denver. Tampa Bay provided Shaquil Barrett with what Denver was unable to. After he signed with the Bucs in free agency in 2019, his playing really took off, and Barrett responded with a breakout season in which he had 19.5 sacks. Although Barrett never came close to matching that total in subsequent seasons, he was an essential component of the Buccaneers’ run to Super Bowl LV. After sacking Aaron Rodgers three times in the NFC Championship Game, he made Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl victory over the Buccaneers, 31-9, miserable with four hits, a sack, and six total pressures. It was the kind of season finisher run that brought to mind Product and Mill operator, two players who assisted guide Barrett during his five seasons with the Mustangs. During the course of Barrett’s five seasons in Tampa Bay, tragedy struck when his daughter Arrayah accidentally drowned in the pool at his Tampa home in April 2023. He played again the following year, but the Buccaneers let him go on March 13 after he missed the entire season because of a torn Achilles tendon. Barrett signed with Miami five days after the Buccaneers let him go, but he won’t play a game for the Dolphins because he wants to retire and spend more time with his kids.
