MIAMI DOLPHINS star Terron Armstead has revealed the terrifying reason why he was forced to retire.
Armstead, 33, played 72 per cent of the snaps at left tackle for the Dolphins last season.
Terron Armstead has opened up on his decision to retire[/caption]
He revealed how he was ‘unable to walk’ days after games[/caption]
However, in April, he stunned the NFL by announcing his sudden retirement to bring an end to his 12-year career.
In a blunt four-word revelation, he told Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson on the Nightcap podcast: “I literally couldn’t walk.”
Armstead’s NFL career saw him drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the draft and 75th overall pick in 2013.
He spent eight years with the Franchise, picking up a Second-team All-Pro and three Pro Bowl votes in a row, before he joined the Dolphins in 2021, earning two more Pro Bowl selections.
But as a result of an ever-worsening knee issue, Armstead barely practiced in 2024 and was prescribed painkillers to help him play every week.
His retirement decision arrived because he did not want to put himself through that routine anymore.
He said: “I’ve been dealing with a knee [issue] since my third year in the league.
“I didn’t see a practice field at all, and not because I didn’t want to or the Dolphins just wanted me to rest.
“I literally couldn’t walk.
“After a game on Sunday, I wouldn’t be able to walk on my own, under my own power, until Wednesday, Thursday.
“So I was only able to play under the pain meds.
“I couldn’t put any pressure on my knee, so it was like, I can’t keep doing that to myself.”
Despite the horrific condition of his knee, Armstead did manage to appear in 15 games during the Dolphins’ 2024 campaign.
He added: “My injury history is extensive, and that’s really the part for me is my body.
“I love this game.
“Mentally, cerebrally, I can play the game forever.
“But it’s just physically, my body is slowing down.
“[There are] movements and abilities that I just can’t perform at the same level.”
Armstead made $115.8million during his NFL career and left $15.5m on the table by retiring.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
