A Washington football legend has decided to retire with the Commanders, as the team announced that former pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan will sign a one-day contract with Washington and call it a career. Kerrigan spent last season with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, but will return to D.C. to retire with the franchise that drafted him with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
“Sometimes I think about the life that I’ve been able to live because of football, and I can’t believe it’s me that’s been chosen to live it,” Kerrigan said in a statement. “No matter how long I played and no matter how focused I was on the task at hand, I thankfully never lost sight of just how cool it is to be an NFL player. Pulling up to FedEx Field on game day and seeing so many people there in my jersey was just about as cool (as) it gets. And to have had the success that I was able to have? Something I never in my wildest dreams could have envisioned. To say I’m thankful would be quite the understatement.”
The Purdue product spent 10 seasons with Washington and was named to four Pro Bowls. Kerrigan became the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks in his final season in 2020, leaving Washington with 95.5 quarterback takedowns. He recorded double-digit sacks in four seasons as well, and was a model of consistency, playing in every game for his first eight NFL seasons.
Kerrigan played 156 career games for Washington, and recorded 454 combined tackles, 95.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles and three interceptions — all returned for touchdowns.