Former Minnesota Vikings OT Jake Long retires from the NFL
By Adam Carlson
Offensive tackle Jake Long has made the decision to retire from the National Football League after spending the 2016 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
After spending only a fraction of the 2016 NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings, offensive tackle Jake Long has made the tough decision to bring his National Football League career to a close.
Long was the #1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins coming out of the University of Michigan, where he won several Big Ten and All-American awards for his play at left tackle.
After joining the Dolphins, he immediately became the teams’s starter at left tackle. During his first four years, he was named to the Pro Bowl 4 times and earned a spot on the All-Pro first and second teams twice.
In 2011, he suffered a back injury and a torn right bicep, placed him on injured reserve for the year. However, he was able to bounce back and win the Ed Block Courage Award and earn the #59 spot on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.
Long became a free agent in 2013, making the tough decision to leave the Dolphins and join the St. Louis Rams. Sadly, Long started suffering major injuries to his knees after the change of scenery. In both 2013 and 2014, he tore his ACL, placing him on the shelf for the season.
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Still, Long kept coming back for more football, but was released by the Rams on March 9, 2015.
The Atlanta Falcons rolled the dice on Long as a free agent during the 2015 season, where he only played 11 total snaps that season. For 2016, he agreed to terms with the Baltimore Ravens, but refused to sign an injury waiver, making him a free agent again.
October 11, 2016 was the date Jake Long signed with the Minnesota Vikings to take over for the injured Matt Kalil at left tackle. However, he tore his Achilles tendon in week 10 against the Washington Redskins, ending his season.
Long announced his retirement from the NFL on April 24, 2017. He fought back through injuries many times to stay on the football field and play the game he loved, but the human body can only take so much punishment before it can’t take anymore.
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We at The Viking Age would like to thank Jake Long for his time with the Minnesota Vikings and congratulate him on an award-filled NFL career. Best of luck to him in whatever he chooses to do in the future! Check out his heart-warming farewell tweet HERE.