Outside linebacker Markus Golden made his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons official on Wednesday with an announcement on his Instagram account. Golden, 33, had 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've officially retired from the NFL after playing the game I've loved all my life," he wrote on an Instagram post. "I feel truly blessed to have been able to live out the dreams and goals I set for myself as a kid." Golden thanked his family, friends and many others, including his hometown of St. Louis and teams that he has played for, including Missouri and the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and Steelers. "I'm also incredibly grateful to all the teammates and coaches I had the privilege to work with along the way," he wrote. "To all the incredible fans, Thank You! Your passion and energy fueled me, and I'm grateful for each and every one of you." Golden tallied 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
Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Markus Golden (44) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports