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Commanders legend Ryan Kerrigan signs one-day contract to retire with franchise

By Thomas Carannante

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Football Team celebrates his sack against quarterback Ben DiNucci #7 , of the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Football Team celebrates his sack against quarterback Ben DiNucci #7 , of the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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One of the best first-round NFL Draft selections in Washington Commanders has called it quits on Friday. Former linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Commanders.

All is right in the world after that inexplicable one season with the Philadelphia Eagles, which just so happened to be the last of his career.

The four-time Pro Bowler was truly a beacon of consistency during his NFL career, missing just FIVE games across 11 seasons. He recorded 95.5 sacks (all with Washington) across 172 total games and led the NFL in forced fumbles (5) in 2014 as well as tackles for loss (18) in 2016.

Those 95.5 sacks are good for second all-time in Commanders franchise history (just 1.5 behind Dexter Manley), but he leads the way with 26 forced fumbles, tackles for loss (119) and quarterback hits (147).

Some value for No. 16 overall, huh?

Ryan Kerrigan has retired a member of the Washington Commanders

If not for the 2011 NFL Draft being loaded with Hall of Fame pass rushers (Von Miller went No. 2 overall, JJ Watt went 11th), Kerrigan wouldn’t have been so overshadowed for his commendable efforts. Guys like Justin Houston, Cameron Jordan and Robert Quinn were among other big-name selections that year, too.

Yeah … even more puzzling why the Commanders didn’t honor Kerrigan in Week 17 of last year, but we’ll let that slide because it’s time to be nostalgic rather than sour.

Sadly, the Commanders were only able to make the playoffs three times during Kerrigan’s tenure with the team, and they were bounced in the Wild Card round each time. But that doesn’t take away his contributions, as he was one of the most impactful and durable linebackers of his generation. Right now, Kerrigan has the ninth-most sacks of any active player. His career in the nation’s capital ended following a defensive scheme switch upon the selection of star pass rusher Chase Young.

He’ll be a shoo-in for the Commanders Hall of Fame someday as fans will fondly look back on the days Kerrigan was disrupting backfields almost every single Sunday for a decade.

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