Derek Wolfe he will spend his time happily chasing his 3-year-old daughter and not the quarterbacks of the NFL. The 32-year-old defensive tackle announced his retirement Friday, saying a hip injury, which required a second operation last month, makes it too difficult for him to serve his 11th year in the league.
Wolfe, who was discharged for Baltimore in June through an injury settlement, signed a one-day agreement with the Broncos to retire as a player from Denver, where he spent eight seasons and won a Super Bowl after being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft out of Cincinnati.
“I’m happy to be done playing because (injuries) were adding up and I know my wife will be happy she doesn’t have to watch me drag myself to the shower in the mornings,” Wolfe admitted.
“It was getting ugly, so it’s time to say goodbye,” Wolfe added. “I can be a father, I can be a husband. I will be able to focus on those things now… On my daughter, who just turned 3 years old and I will be able to play and spend time with her.”
Wolfe lamented the time he spent away from his family after signing two years ago with the Ravens. In August he injured his hip and missed the entire season. “
“I can remember those times when I wasn’t around, especially the last two years when I was with Baltimore during the COVID-19. Your family can’t be around, it’s hard and I missed a lot of time,” Wolfe said. “Then I’m going to make it up now.”
Wolfe said he appreciated the Broncos bringing him back to say goodbye: “I had a great time here,” he said, “I played great football, I won a lot of games, I won a Super Bowl.”
Wolfe appeared in 122 games in nine seasons, starting six, and had 350 tackles, 81 quarterback hits and 34 sacks. He added 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in seven playoff games, five with the Broncos.
After a strong rookie season, Wolfe was injured in a preseason game at Seattle in 2013 and was paralyzed for three hours. He returned to action two weeks later, but later suffered a seizure during the season during a team bus trip to the airport.
Later he lost several duels on the way to the Super Bowl 48that the Broncos lost to Russell Wilson y los Seahawkyes He played another seven seasons and helped the Broncos win the Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Pantherstwo years after he suffered the seizure that nearly killed him.
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