PITTSBURGH – Twin centers Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey have retired from the NFL, Ramon Foster, a former Maurkice teammate, announced on Twitter.
“It’s an honor for my siblings to ask me to announce the next stage of their lives. After more than a decade, @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey REMOVE from @nfl,” he tweeted at Foster.
It is an honor that my siblings of another asked me to announce the next stage of their life. After more than a decade @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey are RETIRING from @nfl 🤝. Below are his notes to thank the participants in his career. #Steeler # chargers #Miami #NFL pic.twitter.com/v9IALOrZaX
– Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) February 12, 2021
The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked Maurkice 18th at the 2010 draft, while Mike finished 15th at the Miami Dolphins the following year. Both were instant full-time starters for their teams, mostly in the center, though Mike spent a season right in Miami.
“We started this journey at age 6 and now at 31 we will close this chapter of our lives as I announce my retirement from @nfl and I will walk away from the game,” Mike Pouncey said in a statement provided by Foster.
While Maurkice played 11 seasons with the Steelers, Mike spent 10 seasons between the Dolphins and Chargers after his college careers in Florida. Mike’s last season ended in September, when he moved to the injured reserve with hip surgery that ended the season. A year earlier, the four-time Pro Bowler season soon ended with a neck injury suffered in early October.
Maurkice Pouncey and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are close friends and often committed to playing whenever the other. Each has a contract that extends over the 2021 season, though Roethlisberger has not announced his intentions for next season. With his retirement, Pouncey leaves behind $ 6.475 billion in dead capitalization, but saves the team $ 8 million in capitalization.
The emotional moments Maurkice Pouncey spent with Roethlisberger on the bench after losing the Steelers ’wildcard playoff on Jan. 10 ended up being his last in the NFL.
“I love this guy,” Roethlisberger said after the season loss. “He’s one of the best competitors and teammates I’ve ever had. It’s been a lot of fun to share a football field with him. I hate that he finished the same way. I just wanted to apologize to him for wanting to win it for him. “.
Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowler player, had been telling teammates and their loved ones that he was seriously considering retiring from the loss of wildcards, sources told ESPN.
“I will always love the game of football and I will always be the last competitor in life @nfl @steelers! I am not in love with the sacrifice that football brings to my life, my beautiful daughters Jayda, Marley and my family ! ”Maurkice Pouncey said in a statement provided by Foster.
A fierce and loyal teammate, Maurkice Pouncey also missed two games in 2019 after being suspended for his role in the fight with the Cleveland Browns while defending Mason Rudolph against Myles Garrett.
“You have a sense of people,” Foster, a former offensive lineman, said a year ago. “You know if someone isn’t for you. What happens is that if you’re one of their teammates, they love and respect the devil out of you.”
Pouncey’s exit creates a leadership gap in the Steelers ’offense. The two-time first-team All-Pro was part of the group that delivered a fiery speech halfway through the Steelers ’Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts that helped the second half resume.
“As I write this farewell speech I cry and laugh that the Lakeland FL twin boys who grew up in poverty came to life living the dreams of the NFL,” Maurkice wrote.