Former New Orleans Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod will formally announce his retirement during the Saints’ final preseason game on Thursday night, per a report from Jane Slater of NFL Network. Slater reports that Bushrod, 35, intends to sign a one-day contract so that he can retire as a member of the Saints, the team he spent much of his career with and whom he helped win Super Bowl XLIV to cap the 2009 season. Herbie Teope of The Advocate confirmed the news and added that Bushrod will sign his one-day contract on Friday.
Bushrod returned to New Orleans for his final season in 2018, having spent the years since his first stint with the Saints playing for the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. He came through in some clutch moments for the Saints last year when starting left tackle Terron Armstead was sidelined with a serious pectoral muscle injury, starting six of the 11 games he appeared in. Bushrod also chipped in a handful of snaps during the Saints’ two playoff games once Armstead was back in the starting lineup.
The Saints selected Bushrod for their Ed Block Courage Award last season in recognition of his perseverance against great personal tragedy, the sudden death of his infant daughter. Bushrod briefly spent time away from the team before returning to fill in for Armstead, using football as an outlet for the pain he and his family were going through.
It’s been great to see Bushrod and his family overcome this together; he recently earned some laughs by wishing his former teammates well and reminding them to stay hydrated at training camp, streaming live on social media while sitting poolside at a hotel resort. Knowing that he’ll be able to end his career on his own terms has to be a terrific feeling.
