NFL: Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announces his retirement

 Emmanuel Sanders has called time on his NFL career, saying ‘I gave the game everything I had and the game gave it back to me’.

The 35-year-old wide receiver announced his retirement Wednesday after winning Super Bowl 50 seven years ago, when he was the game’s top receiver with six receptions for 83 yards against the Carolina Panthers (10-24). 

Sanders could have headed into his 13th NFL season after starting out with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. He also played for San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills. 

Sanders with his wife Gabby Sanders and their two kids in Los Angeles in February

‘I don’t have the itch,’ he told the team’s official website. 

‘And I think I don’t have the itch because I know I gave the game everything that I had to offer. … I gave it my all. Every single rep, every single play. I tried to go 100 percent, as hard as I can. … I gave the game everything that I had, and the game gave it back to me. 

‘I’m walking away three Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl ring and memories of a lifetime. I’m absolutely blessed and grateful for the opportunity to be able to play this game at the level that I played at.’ 

Sanders, who is also a two-time Pro Ball champion in 2014 and 2016, intends to make the most of more time with his family after weighing up the decision for a significant period of time.

‘For me, I feel like it’s the right time for me,’ he added.

‘Twelve years. I’m walking away from the game healthy. I’ve had a great career. I played in a lot of great games. Three Super Bowls. Pro Bowls. I played for some great organizations. 

‘And so I just feel like it’s my time. Twelve is good for me. Now I can go and run routes with my son and play basketball with my son, hang out with my kids and enjoy my life.’ 

Pittsburgh Steelers had two of NFL’s best receivers in Sanders (left) and Antonio Brown (right)

Sanders joined the Denver Broncos in 2014 and set a career-high of 101 passes for 1,404 yards

Sanders was drafted as a third-round pick by the Steelers in 2010 after playing four years at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he had 285 receptions for 3,791 yards and 34 touchdowns.  

He played in Super Bowl XLV in his NFL rookie year along with fellow, top receiver Antonio Brown. The team lost to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 31-25.

Sanders also set a then-career high in receiving yards in 2013, catching 67 passes for 740 yards and six touchdowns during his time in Pittsburgh. However, Brown had 10 catches for 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns that same year. He was ranked as the league’s best wide receiver above Sanders.  

Both players complimented each others style for the Steelers, until Sanders sought for a move to Denver in 2014 after revealing that ‘being the No. 2 receiver over there [in Pittsburgh] is not fun at times’ and two playoffs-less seasons. 

Playing along with Broncos legend Payton Manning, as well as linebacker Von Miller and receiver Demaryius Thomas, he would beat his career-high once more with 101 passes for 1,404 yards and nine touchdown in his first season. 

A year later, he contributed to Denver’s championship-winning team by receiving the football 76 times for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns.   

Sanders reached his third Super Bowl with the 49ers in 2020, losing to Kansas City 31-20

Sanders left Colorado in 2019, moving to San Francisco via a trade, and in search for another ring. He caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games in his first season with the 49ers, helping the team reach Super Bowl LIV. 

The wide receiver could have sealed the Vince Lombardi trophy for his team had 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo not overthrown a pass to seal the win. Kansas City went on to win the championship game 31-20 after the score was tied 10-10 at halftime. 

In his off-time, Sanders would appear as an analyst in Los Angeles for the NFL network, where he’ll surely pursue more time on air now that his retirement has been announced.