Twin centers Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey have retired from the NFL, Ramon Foster, a former teammate of Maurkice, announced on Twitter.
“It’s my honor that my brothers from another asked me to announce the next stage in their life. After over a decade @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey are RETIRING from the @nfl,” Foster tweeted.
It’s my honor that my brothers from another asked me to announce the next stage in their life. After over a decade @MaurkicePouncey and Mike Pouncey are RETIRING from the @nfl 🤝. Below are their memos to thank those involved in their careers. #Steeler #chargers #Miami #NFL pic.twitter.com/v9IALOrZaX
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) February 12, 2021
Maurkice was drafted No. 18 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 draft, while Mike went 15th overall to the Miami Dolphins the following year. The two were instantly full-time starters for their teams, primarily at center, though Mike spent a season at right guard in Miami.
“We began this journey at 6 years old and now at 31 we will close this chapter of our lives as I announce my retirement from the @nfl and 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 the Chargers after their college careers at Florida. Mike’s final season ended in September when he went on Injured Reserve with season-ending hip surgery. A year earlier, the four-time Pro Bowler’s season ended early with a neck injury sustained in early October.
Maurkice Pouncey and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are close friends and often vowed to play as long as the other. Each has a contract that runs through the 2021 season, though Roethlisberger has not announced his intentions for the upcoming season. With his retirement, Pouncey leaves behind $6.475 million in dead cap, but he saves the team $8 million in cap space.
The emotional moments Maurkice Pouncey spent with Roethlisberger on the bench after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild card exit Jan. 10 ended up being his last in the NFL.
“I love that guy,” Roethlisberger said after the season-ending loss. He is one of the best competitors and teammates I’ve ever had. It’s been so much fun to share a football field with him. I hate that it ended the way it did. I just wanted to apologize to him that I wanted to win it for him.”
Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowler, had been telling teammates and those close to him he was seriously considering retirement since the wild card loss, sources told ESPN.
“I’ll always love the game of football & always will be the ultimate competitor in life @nfl @steelers ! I’m jus not in love with the sacrifice football carries on my life, my beautiful daughters Jayda, Marley & my family!” Maurkice Pouncey said in a statement provided by Foster.
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