Tough, talkative Aqib Talib retires after 12-year NFL career

Five-time Pro Bowler Aqib Talib announced his retirement from the NFL on his new podcast Wednesday. The loquacious cornerback said he turned down an offer last month to rejoin the New England Patriots.

Talib said he was excited about reuniting with Bill Belichick and both the role (covering tight ends) and the money ($6 million) were good.

“I can make $6 million and guard tight ends all day,” Talib said. “I’m like, I’m cool.”

After he began looking at flights and apartments, Talib took a look at the Patriots’ schedule and asked himself if he really wanted to cover the likes of George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and Noah Fant, among others.

“You look at the Patriots' schedule, it’s tight end after tight end after tight end, week in, week out,” Talib said on his podcast, “ Call to the Booth. ”

So, Talib, who’s 34, turned down Belichick's overture.

“My heart, my competitive edge, I ain’t really in it no more,” Talib said.

A first-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2008, Talib played in New England in 2012-13 after being traded from Tampa Bay at midseason.

In 2014, he joined the Denver Broncos as a free agent. He won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and famously ripped off Michael Crabtree’s gold chain.

He finished his career with two injury-filled seasons with the Rams, suffering an ankle injury in 2018 and hurting his ribs in 2019, when he was traded to Miami, where he never suited up.

Talib recorded 35 career interceptions and four fumble recoveries. His 10 defensive touchdowns were three shy of Charles Woodson’s NFL record.

“Aqib, getting to know him, man, he was such a big part of the type of player that I am now,” said Broncos All-Pro safety Justin Simmons. ”... He’s one of those guys that you just love to have on you team, he always has your back."

Talib told The Associated Press his favorite memories were in Denver.

“Definitely that Super Bowl 50 win, that confetti falling, the parade, the whole nine yards, that was my most fond memory by far,” Talib said.

He said he enjoyed starring for the “No-Fly Zone” secondary in Denver alongside Darius Stewart, Chris Harris Jr., T.J. Ward and Bradley Roby.

“It was a match made it heaven,” Talib said. “We all knew how to deal with each other, we all knew how to work with each other. It was dope to be a part of one of the best secondaries in history.”

Talib said football is still in his blood and that’s why he’s sticking around the game on the media side.

“I’m going to shoot my shot at the broadcast and stuff. I’m talking to a few people now, we’ll see how it goes,” Talib said. “I also got my podcast going, ‘Call to the Booth,’ we’ll be talking a bunch of football, having a little fun.”

Image credits: AP