Former Rams Offensive Tackle Jake Long Calls It A Career

Los Angeles Rams, then St. Louis Rams Offensive Tackle Jake Long retires from the NFL after a myriad of injuries.

Not to long ago but longer than you might think, former Los Angeles Rams, then St. Louis Rams OT Jake Long was being selected as the top overall pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Timing being what it sometimes can be, Long announces his retirement today just as the 2017 NFL Draft is about to begin four short days from now, in Philadelphia.

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Long, who played his college football at the University of Michigan, was a second team All-Big 10 Conference player, as well as a two-time consensus All-American and the Big 10 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

His career had stops in Miami (2008-2012), Los Angeles/St. Louis (2013-2014), Atlanta (2015), and last season in Minnesota. Jake was dominant in his early NFL career, being voted to the Pro-Bowl in each of his first four seasons, as well as being named first team All-NFL by the Associated Press in 2010.

ESPN NFL Guru Chris Mortensen would tweet that Long spent his career hampered by injuries, which may have prevented potential Hall of Fame consideration.

The 2013 season, which saw Long as a member of the St. Louis Rams, would be the last season Jake would manage to appear in 10 games. While with the Minnesota Vikings last season, his season would be cut short with a torn Achilles.

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In his statement announcing his retirement, Long would reference a mind wanting to continue, but his body not being able, something many former NFL players realize in the twilight of their respective careers’.

While with the Rams, Jake would suffer two torn ACL injuries that would prematurely end two season: in 2013 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in 2014 against the Kansas City. Chiefs.