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Ex-Giants pass rusher Markus Golden retiring after nine NFL seasons

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Ex-Giants pass rusher Markus Golden retiring after nine NFL seasons

Veteran outside linebacker and former Giant Markus Golden announced his retirement on Wednesday after nine seasons in the NFL. 

Golden, 33, who played with the Giants for parts of two seasons, already had been put on the reserve/retired list by the Steelers this month but made his decision official in a post on Instagram. 

During his time with the Giants in 2019 and part of 2020, he appeared in 23 games with 17 starts, recording 11.5 sacks. 

“Football has always been more than just a sport to me, I’ve officially retired from the NFL after playing the game I’ve loved all my life,” Golden wrote on Instagram. “I feel truly blessed to have been able to live out the dreams and goals I set for myself as a kid. A Big thank you to God, my family, friends, St. Louis, Matthew Dickey Boys & Girls Club, Affton, Hutchinson Community College, Mizzou, The Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dreams.

“I’m also incredibly grateful to all the teammates and coaches I had the privilege to work with along the way. To all the incredible fans, Thank You! Your passion and energy fueled me, and I’m grateful for each and every one of you.”


Steelers linebacker Markus Golden defends during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Jan. 15, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. AP

During his career, Golden played for the Cardinals, Giants and Steelers. 

He had 343 total tackles and 51 sacks while recording one touchdown after being selected in the second round of the NFL Draft in 2015 by Arizona out of the University of Missouri, spending the majority of his NFL career with the Cardinals. 

Golden appeared in four playoff games — three with the Cardinals and one with the Steelers. 


Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks attempts to pitch the ball as he is tackled by Markus Golden #44 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at CenturyLink Field on November 15, 2015 in Seattle, Washington.
Russell Wilson of the Seahawks attempts to pitch the ball as he is tackled by the Cardinals’ Markus Golden during the first half at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 15, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images

After he was traded by the Giants to the Cardinals during the 2020 season, Golden called out the Giants for his lack of playing time, doubling down on the take in March 2021.

“A lot of people don’t know, I was going through a lot down there in New York. … I felt like last year in New York, I got out there, I competed, I did everything to prove that I was the guy and they didn’t give me the opportunity so that took my love away from the game a little bit,” Golden said Wednesday via Zoom, according to 98.7 FM Arizona Sports. “Not gonna lie, that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit, because that’s what the game’s always been about.

“If you work hard do what you’re supposed to do on the field you’re gonna be out there. I felt a little disrespected by New York, so when the Cardinals came and traded for me it was a blessing. Because it’s like, who else is gonna come save me and get me out of a situation like this? The Cardinals.”

He recorded four sacks and 20 tackles during his last season in the league with the Steelers.

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