Ricky Williams to Retire from the NFL

By Rose Cahalan in Blog, Special, Sports on February 7, 2012 at 1:29 pm | 7 Comments

NFL player and Longhorn legend Ricky Williams will retire, he announced today.

Williams, 34, won the Heisman Trophy in 1998. In an NFL career spanning 11 seasons, he became one of just 26 players to rush at least 10,000 yards.

“I am excited about all the opportunities ahead,” Williams said in a press release. “Continuing my education, running The Ricky Williams Foundation and whatever other opportunities present themselves.”

Williams has retired once before—in 2004, after a four-game suspension for a positive marijuana test. He returned in 2005.

When news of his retirement plans broke today, Williams took to Twitter to say: “Thank you all, but this ain’t it, I’m gonna do something really special. ‘Be you and change the world.'”

*Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated that Williams had rushed 100,000 yards. Thanks to an astute reader for correcting us.

Photo courtesy Jim Sigmon

Tags: announcement, football, Longhorns, nfl, retirement, ricky williams