Michael Bennett is calling it a career. After eleven years in the NFL, the longtime Seahawks defensive end announced his retirement on Instagram. 
“Retiring feels a little like death of self, but I’m looking forward to the rebirth — the opportunity to reimagine my purpose,” Bennett wrote. “I would like to thank my wife and children, who have sacrificed so much for me to succeed. I’m looking forward to supporting them the same way they have me these past 11 years. I have never been more at peace in my life.”
Bennett, 34, went undrafted in 2009 after an up-and-down tenure at Texas A&M. His first deal technically came with the Seahawks, but he didn’t make the final cut, so he moved on to the Buccaneers. In 2013, he returned to Seattle as a free agent, and that’s where he really came into his own. The ’13 Seahawks won the Super Bowl and boasted the league’s best D, thanks in large part to Bennett. With the Seahawks, Bennett went on to rack up three straight Pro Bowl appearances and 39 total sacks across five seasons.
Bennett spent time with the Eagles, Cowboys, and Patriots across the last two seasons and was still solidly productive – he had 15.5 sacks between 2018 and 2019. Still, Bennett was mulling retirement even before the pandemic, and quarantining with the family reminded him of everything he had missed off of the field. With that, Bennett is walking away from the game with 359 tackles, 69.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and a Super Bowl ring.
He probably wanted a certain dollar amount contract. He could of gone back to Dallas instead of signing Aldon Smith or Gregory
Great career, great player.
If you haven’t read his book, please do! Exposes the NCAA big time.
Great? Good-Very Good maybe. Great is reserved for hall of famers.
Not even very good. Above average is about it.
The fact he was never suspended over false racism claims and his fake police brutality story is a black eye on the league for sure.
Don’t forget that bizarre security guard incident at the Superbowl a few years ago.
“Great” is quite the stretch for an average to good player and POS human being.
What a great career for any player, let alone for an undrafted one.
This guy was very good on the field a bad teammate in the locker room and worse off the field. He seemed like a good dad though. His part in destroying the Seahawks was ridiculous. Wilson wasn’t black enough? He was so bad PC didn’t want him back.
Then the crap in Las Vegas was stupidity at its finest. Wyoming is correct why no league punishment? I felt sorry for the fans that thought they were getting a great player that turned out to be a turd. It is too bad he could probably had a few more good years. Is it retirement of nobody will hire you?
Teams would hire him in a heartbeat but he’s got that Kaepernick thing where he wants more money than he’s worth
He’s a guy who made something of himself after he was undrafted and then went into full turd mode and no one thought he was worth the trouble. Forced retirement is more like it.
Good! He’s such an Narcissistic a-hole!
One less racist on the field. Go to the couch like Kaepernick