“2011 Draft Class Slowly Fading Away”: NFL World Stunned After 7x Pro Bowler Announces Sudden Retirement

Former Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver A. J. Green announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday. In a statement released on his Instagram, Green kept it short, sweet, and emotional. After Tom Brady and JJ Watt, a third veteran retirement this season made many hearts heavy.

34-year-old Green played 11 seasons in the NFL, becoming one of the most prolific wideouts of his era. The league is transforming into a young receiver’s group, with only a chosen few remaining from the famed 2011 draft class. And fans and legends of the game wished A. J. the best for his future after the NFL.

Fans were heartbroken by the announcement

“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short,” A. J. Green started his farewell essay on Instagram. “Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game, and it owes me nothing. Be blessed. Love you all! The next chapter begins,” the WR added.

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Past and present league heavyweights like Von Miller, JJ Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd left their parting message for their friend and competition on the field. “Legends live forever,” Hopkins wrote.

“That 2011 draft class is slowly fading away,” one fan wrote. “Heck of a career,” another fan commented. “People done forgot he was a top 3 WR for quite some time,” one loyal A. J. Green fan reminded the haters.

A. J. Green was elite at his peak

Green started his NFL career with the Bengals who drafted him as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft. And he had stellar competition in his draft class. Some of the other elite athletes that came out that year include JJ Watt, Colin Kaepernick, and 2x Super Bowl champion, Von Miller.

During his first five years in the league with Cincinnati, A. J. recorded five consecutive 1000-yard seasons. Since 2011, the ex-Cardinals became one of the five receivers in the league to have more than 10,000 receiving yards besides Buccaneers Julio Jones and Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Antonio Brown.

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With 7 Pro Bowl selections and 2 All-Pro team credits to his name, the wideout ended his career with 70 touchdowns. And will forever live on in the minds of the gridiron’s biggest fans. Maybe they will see him in a broadcasting box beside Brady and Gronk sometime soon.