NFL Linebacker Shaquil Barrett Announces Shock Retirement

Two-time Super Bowl champion Shaquil Barrett has announced that he is hanging 'em up.

Barrett was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in February after spending five seasons with the team, and signed with the Miami Dolphins in March.

However, he has informed them that he won't be playing a single down for them because he's calling it a career.

On Saturday, the 31-year-old out of Colorado State posted a message to Instagram announcing his decision.

"It’s time for me to hang it up," Barrett's post reads. "It’s been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kidds and helping them realize there (sic) dreams and catch em.

"Anyone who caught their dreams before know the work, time and consistency required to reach them. I’m ready to start building them skills up in my kids which will take 100% commitment. IK to some it’ll be a surprise but I’ve been thinking about this for a while and the decision has never been more clear then (sic) it is now."

Barrett's decision certainly was a surprise, especially given that he signed with the Dolphins just a few months ago.

However, he mentioned that this had been on his mind for some time, and he's putting a bow on a heck of a career. 

Barrett entered the league in 2015 as a member of the Denver Broncos and won a Super Bowl with them before moving on to the Bucs in 2019 where he went on to win another Super Bowl and was a two-time Pro Bowler.

However, Barrett's career wasn't without heartache as his two-year-old daughter Arrayah died in a drowning incident.

Barrett scored the first touchdown of his career early last season after picking off then-Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. He dedicated the play to his late daughter.