Linebacker Shaq Barrett announces retirement from NFL

DENVER (KDVR) — NFL linebacker Shaquil Barrett, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, announced his retirement Saturday.

“I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize their dreams,” Barrett wrote in an Instagram post. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while and the decision has never been more clear than it is right now.”

Barrett’s football career broke out at Colorado State University. He was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 after recording 12 sacks.

Undrafted, the Broncos signed the rookie linebacker in 2015. He played all 16 games, registered 5.5 sacks and helped Denver win Super Bowl 50.

Barrett won his second Super Bowl in 2020 with the Buccaneers.

Barrett signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in March.

Barrett, 31, will retire with 59 career sacks in nine seasons.

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