By: Zhile Chen

Almost never in Ryan Kerrigan’s 12-year career as an athlete has he watched a football game from the sidelines in casual clothes. He wants to be a part of the game so badly yet he can’t.

Kerrigan’s knee is in too bad of a shape to continue playing in 2021. For a year, he continued playing, as he didn’t feel ready to stop, but now the wound is keeping him from doing it.

If Kerrigan’s knee was better, he would’ve continued playing.

“To continue to put more stress on my knee and whatnot, it wasn’t worth it.”

Before he retired, he visited his training facility. The nostalgia he felt upon seeing it filled him with sadness.

“Because it’s all the relationships you built over the years with teammates, coaches, the people in the kitchen, the strength staff, the media… It’s hard to walk away, even though I know it’s the right thing.” Kerrigan had said.

Others will miss him as much as he will miss them. He is a role model, someone who is revered by other football players. The players hate to see him go.

“He’s a guy I looked up to since middle school,” said Young, a football player on the same team that Kerrigan was on. “So, it was definitely an honor just to play with him.”

However, there are benefits to not playing football. Before, Kerrigan had to eat according to a strict diet that made his body better at football. But now, he can drink and eat whatever he wants, as he no longer has to play football.

While he did quit playing football professionally, he is planning to become a coach.

When asked about what he wanted to be remembered for when they think of him, Kerrigan replied, Football was my life. I just want fans to know that it meant that much to me, that my performance and what I was showing on Sundays was that important to me, that it was my driving force in life.”