Nov 11, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) works out prior to the game against the Washington Redskins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
By Andrew Bucholtz on

While Gerald McCoy hadn’t played in a NFL game since September 2021, the 35-year-old veteran defensive tackle was still potentially an option for teams looking for defensive line help. McCoy removed all doubt there Friday, though, officially announcing his retirement. And he did so with a slick video looking back at his career, including to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ selection of him out of the University of Oklahoma with the third-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and to his nine years with that franchise:

McCoy (seen above during a 2018 game) played for the Buccaneers from 2010-2018, and earned all six of his Pro Bowl nods (every year from 2012-2017) with that team. He also earned a first-team All-Pro selection with them in 2013, and second-team All-Pro selections with them in 2014 and 2016. And the Bucs spotlighted him in a couple of Twitter posts Friday:

After Tampa Bay released him in the spring of 2019, McCoy would sign with the Carolina Panthers for the 2019 season. He then signed with the Dallas Cowboys for the 2020 season, but never actually played for them, as he was released after rupturing his quadriceps tendon in practice. He then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2021 season and played one game with them, but was moved to the reserve/injured list after that and didn’t play again. So his time with the Bucs remains by far the most notable part of his NFL career, and it’s neat to see him spotlight that in this video.

[Gerald McCoy on Twitter; photo from Kim Klement/USA Today Sports]

About Andrew Bucholtz

Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.

View all posts by Andrew Bucholtz