Markus Golden Retires from NFL After 9 Seasons with Cardinals, Giants, Steelers

Markus Golden's NFL career is over.

The linebacker announced his retirement on his Instagram account on Wednesday and said, in part, "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. I feel truly blessed to have been able to live out the dreams and goals I set for myself as a kid."

The Arizona Cardinals selected Golden with a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft, and he played his first four seasons for the NFC West team. He then signed with the New York Giants as a free agent ahead of the 2019 season, although New York traded him right back to Arizona during the 2020 campaign.

Golden remained in Arizona until he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2023 season.

Pittsburgh signed him again this year but placed him on the reserve/retired list earlier this month.

That means Golden played nine seasons in all and finished his career with 343 tackles, 51 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, eight passes defended, five fumble recoveries and one interception. The Missouri product appeared in three different postseasons, including the last one with the Steelers, and was part of the 2015 Cardinals team that reached the NFC Championship Game.

Golden's one full season with the Giants may have been the best of his career from an individual production standpoint, as he posted a career-best 72 tackles and 10 sacks. He also reached double-digit sack totals in 2016 (12.5) and 2021 (11) with the Cardinals.

The 33-year-old thanked all three of his former teams "for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dreams."