Rashard Mendenhall retires at age 26

Photo Courtesy of Gulmuhor by Zia

Rashard Mendenhall, former Pittsburgh Steeler is now retired from Football.  Mendenhall was drafted 23rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft.  Prior to his rookie season Mendenhall was ranked by ESPN as the 30th best running back in the league.  On July 25, 2008, Mendenhall agreed to a five-year contract worth US $12.55 million with the Steelers. Mendenhall entered the 2008 regular season as the Steelers' youngest player and rushed for 4,236 yards and scored 39 total touchdowns.  On January 1, 2012, Mendenhall left the last regular season game against the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury on the final play of the 1st quarter. It was soon discovered that he had torn his ACL and was placed on the IR list. Mendenhall finished that year with 928 yards rushing.  Mendenhall then signed a one-year contract worth up to $2.5 million with the Arizona Cardinals on March 13, 2013. Once healthy, he scored five touchdowns in his final eight games but never eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game. Only four other running backs had more touchdowns than Mendenhall during that stretch.  After last season ended, Mendenhall told Coach Arians he wanted to write books and do something other than play football.  Mendenhall retired on March 8, 2014 at age 26 after playing 6 years in the league.

When asked what he will do now, he says:  "As for the question of what will I do now, with an entire life in front of me? I say to that, I will LIVE! I plan to live in a way that I never have before, and that is freely, able to fully be me, without the expectation of representing any league, club, shield or city. I do have a plan going forward, but I will admit that I do not know how things will totally shape out. That is the beauty of it! I look forward to chasing my desires and passions without restriction, and to sharing them with anyone who wants to come along with me! And I'll start with writing!"  Read all the details in his own words here

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