Former Cardinals CB Antonio Cromartie retires from NFL
Mar 5, 2018, 1:30 PM
Arizona Cardinals' Antonio Cromartie (31) returns an interception against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie announced Monday that he was retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons.
“Today is the day I️ knew I️ would eventually have to face, but one I never wanted to accept,” he wrote on Instagram. “After 27 years of playing football, today I say farewell. God blessed me with the opportunity to play in the NFL for 11 years, and after much consideration and prayer, I’d like to officially announce my retirement.”
Cromartie spent his first four NFL seasons (2006-09) with the San Diego Chargers, the last of which he played under newly-hired Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, who coached defensive backs.
From 2010-13, Cromartie played for the New York Jets before spending 2014 with Arizona.
That year, the Cardinals went 11-5 in the regular season and lost to the Carolina Panthers, 27-16, in the NFC Wild Card Game. Cromartie recorded 43 tackles, three interceptions and 10 passes defensed during the regular season before picking off a pass and defending two more in the playoff loss.
“To my ‘Bird Gang Family,’ The Arizona Cardinals and the (Bidwill) Family; although my time with you was short, I️ enjoyed my year there and I loved the opportunity you gave me,” Cromartie wrote on Instagram. “It was an honor to play for such a great organization.”
After leaving Arizona, Cromartie returned to the Jets for the 2015 season and in 2016 played for the Indianapolis Colts.
Marvin Harrison Jr. checked all the extra boxes when he met with the Cardinals at the combine and then when he visited Arizona, GM Monti Ossenfort said.