We’ve come a long way since the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50, as numerous young players have begun to retire. Malik Jackson retired from football last summer, and Shaquil Barrett, a former Broncos pass rusher, is retiring this offseason.
Barrett was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos ten years ago, after the 2014 NFL Draft. He was one of the most surprising athletes to go undrafted. Barrett was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and definitely showed natural pass rush abilities, despite the fact that his pre-draft athletic measurables were not particularly impressive.
Actually, to make myself feel even older, I pulled up my original scouting report on Barrett, which is filled with excitement and hope about his possible NFL career. What’s most surprising in retrospect is that Barrett was cut by the Broncos following his rookie camp. Despite having an embarrassment of riches on the edge for the 2015 season, the Broncos elected to keep Quanterus Smith and Lerentee McCray on the active roster over Barrett, at least initially. The Broncos kept him on the practice squad for the whole of his first season.
Barrett played his first five NFL seasons in Denver, albeit he was basically redshirted in his rookie year. The surprising part is that he made the 53-man roster in 2015 after the Broncos selected Shane Ray from Missouri with their first-round pick. Barrett not only made the 53-man roster, but he also made significant contributions to the defence, including 5.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles.
Thus, “Sack” Barrett was born in Denver and played a key role in the team’s march to the Super Bowl 50.
Unfortunately, Barrett was blocked in the lineup in 2016 by Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, and Shane Ray. He finally had an opportunity in 2017 to play the most snaps of his NFL career (at the time), but it did not lead to a long-term job in Denver. Barrett was retained by the Broncos in 2018, although his importance reduced significantly when the team selected Bradley Chubb with the fifth overall choice in that draft class.
Barrett ultimately left Denver in 2019, signing a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He turned that small one-year deal into one of the best individual pass rush seasons we’ve seen in the NFL in the last five to ten years. Barrett recorded an incredible 19.5 sacks while with the Buccaneers, as well as six forced fumbles and 37 quarterback hits. Barrett was doing everything Denver Broncos fans expected of him, except in Tampa Bay.
Barrett turned his All-Pro season into a lucrative contract with the Buccaneers, where he tallied up 45 total sacks over five seasons. Barrett had 15 forced fumbles over his five seasons with the Bucs. Throughout his NFL career, he forced 22 fumbles and was one of the best at punching the ball out when he got to the quarterback.
Former Broncos pass rusher Shaquil Barrett has retired from the NFL.
Barrett’s choice to retire from the NFL surprised many in the football world, but it made perfect sense for him and his family.
Barrett and his wife Jordanna welcomed a baby daughter this year, joining their three other children, Shaquil Jr., Braylon, and Aaliyah. Last year, they tragically lost a two-year-old child named Arrayah, whose memory was honoured with the birth of baby girl Allanah.
It’s impossible to understand what Barrett and his family have been through in the previous 12-18 months unless you’ve been there yourself. I was surprised to see him back on the field for the Buccaneers last season, but perhaps it was a necessary distraction during one of life’s most difficult times. Now, with the birth of a brand-new baby girl and his other children aged 8 and above, I can’t express how much I admire Barrett for giving up football to be a full-time father.
He signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Miami Dolphins this summer, where he would have been teammates with Bradley Chubb, which is pretty ironic.
Barrett has reached the summit of the sport, with multiple Super Bowl rings and Pro Bowl appearances. I know I speak for everyone in Broncos Country when I say that we’re all glad to have had the opportunity to witness him play in Denver, to wear the #48 jersey and give his all whether rushing the passer or on special teams. And everyone was immensely proud of his exploits in Tampa Bay, with many wishing the Broncos had kept him rather than pursuing Bradley Chubb in the NFL Draft.
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