Super Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh has announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons.
The defensive tackle was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team who, led by Tom Brady, beat the Kansas City Chiefs to lift the Lombardi Trophy back in 2021.
Suh, 38, played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers before being drafted by the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in his debut season, the first of five years with the Lions.
Suh then left for the Miami Dolphins, where he spent three seasons, and had one year with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Buccaneers signed him before the 2019 season and he enjoyed three years there, winning the Super Bowl in his second.
Super Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh has announced his retirement from the NFL
Suh tackles Patrick Mahomes during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory in 2021
In 2022, Suh signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and helped them reach the Super Bowl. However, the Chiefs went on to win 38-35.
In a statement on Saturday morning, he wrote: ‘July 12, 2024 was the hardest day of my life. It’s the day I said goodbye to my father, the man who raised me, shaped me, challenged me, and believed in me before I believed in myself.
‘He wasn’t just a dad. He was my idol, my coach, and my anchor. He taught me what it meant to be disciplined, focused, and relentless in everything I do. Every snap I took in football carried his fingerprint. Every time I lined up across from someone, I could hear his voice pushing me, reminding me that I wasn’t just representing myself. I was representing him, my family, my name.
‘Before he passed, he gave me one final piece of advice, “It’s time to let football go. You’ve done everything you set out to do. Now it’s time for the next chapter.” That conversation stayed with me. So today, one year later, I’m honoring that wish.
‘I’m officially retiring from the NFL. I have so many memories to cherish. 13 seasons. 5x All-Pro. A Super Bowl ring. Countless battles in the trenches. I left it all on the field, and now I’m stepping away with peace and gratitude. Because I’ve been preparing for this moment for years. Football was my passion, but it was never my endgame.
‘My next season is about impact, purpose, and legacy. About helping others build wealth, lead with intention, and create lasting freedom. I’ve lived. I’ve learned. I’ve built. I’ve failed. I’ve succeeded. And now I want to share what I’ve learned; especially with athletes, entrepreneurs, and young people navigating life and money.
‘That’s why I created the No Free Lunch podcast. It’s about real conversations, real strategy, and real education. Because freedom doesn’t come from fame, it comes from knowledge and how you move. Now I’m using my platform to serve something bigger.
‘If you’ve ever followed my journey… Thank you. If you’ve ever cheered, supported, critiqued, or pushed me, you’re part of the reason I kept going. And if you’re wondering what’s next: Tune in. Follow along. I’m just getting started.’
