Marcus Gilbert retires: Longtime Steelers proper deal with was in NFL for 10 seasons

Marcus Gilbert, virtually 10 years to the day after he was chosen within the 2011 NFL Draft, introduced his retirement from the NFL. 

The veteran offensive deal with spent his first eight seasons with the Steelers earlier than being traded to the Cardinals throughout the 2019 offseason. An harm in 2019 and the choice to choose out of the 2020 season led to Gilbert by no means taking an everyday snap throughout his time in Arizona. 

“I want to ship a particular thanks to the Rooney household, Coach Tomlin, Coach Kugler and Kevin Colbert for drafting me in 2011 and giving me the chance to dwell my dream and play for the Pittsburgh Steelers for eight yeas, cheered on by the assist of the most effective followers within the Nationwide Soccer League,” Gilbert wrote in his retirement announcement. “Though my tenure with the Arizona Cardinals was brief, I cherished my time within the Grand Canyon State. I want Coach Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals better of luck this season.” 

A member of Florida’s 2008 nationwide championship group, Gilbert was taken by the Steelers with the 63rd total choose within the 2011 draft. As a rookie, Gilbert noticed 13 begins whereas serving to Pittsburgh win 12 regular-season video games. Gilbert gained the Joe Greene Nice Efficiency Award, the award yearly given to the Steelers’ most excellent rookie performer. 

Gilbert remained within the beginning lineup all through the period of his time with the Steelers. Throughout that span, Pittsburgh gained three AFC North division titles. Additionally they made the playoffs 5 instances that included a visit to the AFC title recreation in 2016. Amongst Gilbert’s highlights in Pittsburgh included his success in opposition to Von Miller throughout the Steelers’ two video games in opposition to the eventual champion Broncos throughout the 2015 season. 

Gilbert was an integral a part of a Pittsburgh offensive line that additionally included left deal with Alejandro Villanueva, left guard Ramon Foster, heart (and faculty teammate) Maurkice Pouncey, and proper guard David DeCastro. Collectively, the unit helped Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown blossom into arguably the NFL‘s most efficient offensive trio throughout the mid-to-late 2010s. 

However after an injury-plagued 2018 season, Gilbert was shipped to Arizona in 2019 in alternate for a compensatory sixth-round choose. A knee harm landed him on injured reserve throughout the 2019 season. Gilbert then selected to choose out previous to the beginning of the 2020 season.