October 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Markus Golden (44) warms up before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Accra Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClair-USA TODAY Sports Outside linebacker Markus Golden announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons, officially making the announcement on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
Golden, 33, re-signed with Pittsburgh on Aug. 1, then the Steelers placed him on the reserve/retired list on Aug. 9.
“Football has always been more than just a sport to me. I have officially retired from the NFL after playing the game I have loved all my life,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I feel so blessed to have been able to fulfill the dreams and goals I set for myself as a child.”
Golden thanked his family, friends and many others, including his hometown of St. Louis and the teams he played for, including Missouri and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and Steelers.
“I am also so grateful to all of the teammates and coaches I have had the privilege of working with,” he wrote. “To all of the incredible fans, thank you! Your passion and energy energizes me, and I am so grateful to each of you.”
Golden had four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 20 tackles in 16 games with the Steelers last season.
He collected 51 sacks, 140 QB hits, 343 tackles, one interception and 11 forced fumbles in 127 games (68 starts) with the Cardinals (2015-18, 2020-22), Giants (2019-20) and Steelers.
The Cardinals selected Golden out of Missouri in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media