When we last heard from Antwaan Randle El, he was trying out for the Lions late in the 2011 season. But after that opportunity failed to materialize, and after an offseason in which he hasn’t drawn any interest from any other NFL teams, Randle El is ready to retire.
Randle El’s brother Curtis Randle El told the Times of Northwest Indiana that Antwaan will announce his retirement on July 14 at Thornton High School in Harvey, Illinois, where he was a three-sport star.
After a good career as a run-first, pass-second quarterback at Indiana (as well as spending some time playing for Bob Knight’s basketball team and the Hoosiers’ baseball team), Randle El was a second-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2002. He played wide receiver for four years for the Steelers and then played four years for the Redskins before playing one final season in Pittsburgh in 2010.
Randle El’s career stats consist of 370 catches for 4,467 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus 79 carries for 438 yards. In limited action as a passer on trick plays, Randle El made the most of his experience as a quarterback, completing 22 of 27 passes for 323 yards, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating of 156.1 is the highest in NFL history for players with at least 20 passes, and he may be best remembered for a touchdown pass he threw to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL.
