Buccaneers Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet, 28, announces retirement after 7 seasons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday following his first Pro Bowl selection and seven "formidable" seasons.
The Buccaneers drafted Marpet out of Hobart College (N.Y.) in the second round in 2015. He became a starter as a rookie. He started 101 regular season games and six in the postseason. He won Super Bowl LV with Tampa in the 2020 season.
"After seven formidable years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I've come to the decision to retire from the game that has given me so much," Marpet wrote on Instagram. "This organization and the people surrounding it have helped not only fulfill a dream, but also helped build me into the person I am today. I've made Tampa Bay my home and I look forward to serving this community in the coming years. To the coaches and teammates, family and friends, an Instagram post simply can't express the profound impact you've had on me. I'm eternally grateful. Thank you Tampa Bay."
Marpet's father, Bill Marpet, told Jenna Laine of ESPN:
"I think he accomplished his goals, values his health, is looking for more challenges. Ali has a very strong inner voice, and he is courageous enough to follow it. I'm in awe."
Marpet made his first Pro Bowl in 2021 behind an 84.1 PFF grade. He allowed only one sack and was a key player on the offensive line.
It's hard to quantify individual offensive line play, but I find this stat interesting, courtesy of @ESPNStatsInfo... If the Bucs' pressure percentage was a team total -- Their pressure percentage WITH Marpet would have ranked 6th best...WITHOUT Marpet would have tied for 29th.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) February 27, 2022
Marpet's retirement follows that of Tom Brady, who was playing his 16th season when Marpet entered the league. Rob Gronkowski may also re-retire. Right guard Alex Cappa and center Ryan Jensen will be free agents when the new NFL season opens.
The young NFL champion made more than $37 million in his short career and frees up $10 million for the Buccaneers in the 2022 books, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
