Defensive tackle Jack Crawford is bidding the NFL farewell after 10 seasons.
The 33-year-old defensive lineman penned a thanksgiving letter that was shared by Pro Football Focus writer Ari Meirov.
Veteran DT Jack Crawford announced that he’s retiring from the NFL after 10 seasons. pic.twitter.com/N2VKwwxH2Y
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 17, 2022
Crawford acknowledged that it was time for him to hang up his cleats after 10 seasons in the league.
He also reminisced the journey that brought him from the United Kingdom to the United States.
The London-born athlete moved to New Jersey for high school.
He initially wanted to join the basketball team but couldn’t play due to an international transfer rule.
Instead, he signed up for American football despite having no prior experience.
After which, he played four years of collegiate football at Penn State.
Crawford was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
It’s a welcome detour for a kid that picked up the game at a late age.
In his retirement note, Crawford also thanked the teams he played for taking a chance on him.
He also thanked his girlfriend, Megan, for being there during tough times.
He closed his note by thanking the Dandrea family who took him in when the transferred from Europe.
Finally, he also gave props to his agent David Canter.
Crawford’s NFL Journey
Crawford played two seasons for the Raiders before being signed by the Dallas Cowboys.
After three seasons in Dallas, he joined the Atlanta Falcons and stayed there until the 2019 season.
He closed his career by playing one season each for the Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals.
He didn’t have much of an impact during final NFL year which could be the reason for his retirement.
In 10 seasons, Crawford had 165 tackles, 18 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
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