Four-time Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo announces retirement after 10 seasons

Columnist

Mon, 31 Dec 2018, 3:48 pm

When media gathered at the Tennessee Titans’ facility on Monday afternoon, they thought it was to hear from head coach Mike Vrabel.

But before Vrabel stepped to the podium, veteran linebacker Brian Orakpo made a surprise appearance.

And surprised many by announcing his retirement.

‘Walk away from the game on my terms’

Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo announced on Monday that he’s retiring after 10 NFL seasons. (Getty Images)

“I will be retiring from the National Football League,” Orakpo began. “One thing once I always wanted to get to this point in my career was walk away from the game on my terms — healthy, great state of mind.”

Orakpo said he addressed his teammates before speaking with the media, because he considers his teammates to be extended family and wanted them to hear the news from him first.

“This was definitely a decision solely made for just walking away from the game health-wise. I think I’ve played enough football and as you get older, the perception is we can keep going and going and going, but your body starts talking to you, and this is the first time I actually sat down and listened.”

The 32-year-old said he’s most proud of helping to change the culture in Tennessee, noting that it wasn’t long ago other teams would see the Titans on their schedule and assume they’d get a win.

#Titans LB Brian Orakpo announces he’s retiring from NFL. Says he’s proud of changing perception of Titans from an easy out to a powerhouse. Says it was time for him to step away. pic.twitter.com/hXXoHfvGec
— Teresa Walker (@TeresaMWalker) December 31, 2018

Four-time Pro Bowler

Orakpo was a star at the University of Texas, and then selected 13th overall in 2009 by Washington. He was an immediate impact player for Washington, starting 31 games over his first two seasons, with 107 total tackles, 19.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits.

He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of those first two seasons.

Orakpo returned to the Pro Bowl after the 2013 season, and in 2016, which was his second season with the Titans. The four-year contract he signed with Tennessee in 2015 is set to expire in March.

For his career, Orakpo started all 132 games in which he played, with 425 total tackles, 66.0 sacks, 125 quarterback hits and 12 forced fumbles.

More cupcakes next?

If you watched Sunday’s slate of NFL games, you may have seen Orakpo and former teammate Michael Griffin in a Microsoft Surface commercial; earlier this year, the pair opened a Gigi’s Cupcakes franchise just outside of Austin.

Orakpo was introduced to Gigi’s when he got a box of the goodies when he signed with the Titans.