After months of waiting, Marshal Yanda has finally given the Ravens, and the fans, an answer to perhaps the most pressing question facing the team: will he or won’t he retire?
The decision is in, Marshal Yanda will retire.
Yanda’s plan to retire was first reported by Barstool Banks, who has been on top of several Ravens related stories, releasing the Ravens’ 2019 schedule and the details of the Marcus Peters trade before anyone else. If you’re a Ravens fan, he’s definitely worth a follow on Twitter.
Hearing Marshal Yanda will be announcing his retirement this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday. Next stop: Canton.
— Big Truss Banks (@BarstoolBanks) March 10, 2020
Yanda’s retirement should come as no surprise to Ravens fans. Rumors circulated last year that the 2007 third-round pick was considering retirement before the 2019 season. Obviously, Yanda never retied in 2019, but the sentiment the rumor carried was right. Yanda entering his 13th season was getting older and retirement was inevitably on the horizon. Yanda signed a one-year extension last offseason, a deal that would keep him on Baltimore’s books throughout 2020. The move showed Yanda’s commitment to playing in 2019, but many expected he would mull retirement in 2020.
Marshal Yanda’s Achievements:
The 13-year veteran leaves the NFL with plenty of accolades. He was selected to 8 Pro Bowls, 2 First-Team All-Pro lists, 5 Second-Team All-Pro lists, the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team in 2007, and won Super Bowl 47 with the Ravens.
Yanda has been one of Baltimore’s most steady leaders throughout the years. His departure is part of Baltimore’s slow loss of the old guard, players that were instrumental to the Ravens’ last Super Bowl run. After Yanda’s retirement, just six players (three on special teams, three on defense) that played in Super Bowl 47 remain.
Many expect Marshal Yanda to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at some point. It’s unlikely that he will be a first-ballot inductee, but his achievements will undoubtedly get him to Canton.
Marshal Yanda’s Press Conference:
The Baltimore Ravens and Marshal Yanda will host a press conference on Wednesday at 11 A.M. Head Coach, John Harbaugh, General Manager Eric DeCosta, and Executive Ozzie Newsome will also be attending. Fans can watch the press conference on the Ravens’ website, mobile app, or on their Facebook page.
Update:
In the aforementioned press conference, the Ravens announced that Marshal Yanda will be joining the team’s Ring of Honor in the near future. He will have to wait behind Haloti Ngata, who will be inducted in 2020.
