Former Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce, who announced his retirement in March, says he knew the 2024 season would be his last when he suffered a torn quad during team workouts last spring and opted against surgery so he could play a full season.
Pierce, 32, then suffered a torn calf in late October, costing him five games. He had one year left on a two-year, $7.5 million contract when he decided to call it quits.
“To be able to get myself back in shape and get myself ready for fall camp was obviously [harder] because I had missed so many leg days and all these other thing,” Pierce said on Glenn Clark Radio April 18. “… I’ve torn enough muscles and got acquainted with too many surgery rooms. I love the game. I’m still probably going to be around the game in some capacity, probably for the rest of my life.”
Pierce was originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Samford in 2016. The 6-foot, 355-pound nose tackle played four years in Baltimore prior to signing a free-agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings, then returned to the Ravens for the final three seasons of his NFL career.
Pierce showed he could still play in 2024, racking up 19 tackles, four quarterback hits and two sacks in 11 games. Head coach John Harbaugh thought Pierce had plenty left in the tank, but Pierce had already promised his wife Erica when he signed his two-year deal that he’d hang up the cleats if he suffered another serious injury.
“Coach Harbaugh actually mentioned he thought I could play for another two or three years before I even notified him that I would probably be retiring,” said Pierce, who finished his career with 238 tackles and 9.5 sacks. “To have people say that and I still have the film speak for itself is awesome. It definitely made it harder, but I always pride myself on trying to be a man of my word.”
Pierce also recorded the first interception of his career in his final regular-season game, one of the best moments of the 2024 NFL season:
Pierce wished he could have ended his career with a Super Bowl ring like Aaron Donald and Ray Lewis did, but he called the interception a “storybook ending” regardless. Fans were bummed that Pierce didn’t attempt to return the interception for a touchdown, but they didn’t know how banged up he was.
“I’m just grateful that I, one, caught the pass and then did not run too far. It went viral anyway, but it would’ve been worse — especially limping down the sideline on a torn calf,” Pierce said. “That would’ve been hilarious. I kept my dignity, brother.”
Back in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., Pierce is trying to get involved with the Mobile-based Senior Bowl and is interested in working for Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta in a scouting role. But for now, he’ll follow in the footsteps of many retired football players who shed weight after retirement. He hired a bodybuilding coach to help him with his diet.
“That’s the first thing I knew I needed to do was get hooked up with a guy who can help me lean out, help me drop all this unnecessary weight now that I don’t have to take on double teams any longer,” Pierce said. “We’re definitely on that journey. There’s no need to be walking around heavy any longer. … It’s just a different phase of life now that comes with a lot more cardio — not fun, but necessary.”
For more from Pierce, listen to the full interview here:
See Also:
• Glenn Clark: I’m Here To Sing The Praises Of Michael Pierce
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox