Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ike Taylor Retires After 12 Seasons

Photo © Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

At the end of 2014, many wondered if it would be the last season for cornerback Ike Taylor. The final year in his contract was marred with injuries, but, even when he was on the field, the athlete was showing signs of his age.

And today, the cornerback made the inevitable announcement through a statement released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Other than having my son, playing for the Steelers has been the best experience in my entire lifetime,” Taylor stated. “It is rare, in this day of free agency that is super rare to play for one team. For me to have this opportunity says a lot about how they felt about me, what I gave back to the organization.”

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“I wasn’t cut. I wasn’t released,” he continued. “It was just my contract was up and it was time to retire. If you want to have pride, well that is the kind of pride I have, being able to play my contract out.”

Ike actually took a considerable pay cut to play out his contract. In his 12 years with the team, he had 636 combined tackles, 14 interceptions, three sacks and two Super Bowl victories. This comes off the heels of legendary safety and future hall of famer Troy Polamalu’s retirement.