It's been an eventful offseason thus far for retirements: Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller retired on Friday, joining Marshawn Lynch, Jared Allen, Charles Woodson, Jerod Mayo, Justin Tuck and Rashean Mathis as big-name players who have called it a career in recent weeks.
Like most all of those players, Miller could still play and contribute if he wanted to keep going, but he has decided 11 seasons are enough.
The Steelers announced the move on their website, and also posted several statements.
From Miller:
"I realize how extremely fortunate and grateful I am to have spent my entire career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. I would like to thank the Rooney Family, Kevin Colbert, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin, James Daniel and the rest of the Steelers organization for giving me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. I will always cherish and value the special bonds that I formed with my teammates. It was truly an honor for me to take the field with them. I am also appreciative of my entire family and all of the coaches who helped me along the way. Additionally, I want to thank Steelers Nation, the best fans in the NFL!
"Lastly, I owe the biggest thank you to my wife, Katie, and our four children for their unwavering support."
Head coach Mike Tomlin said, "It’s been an honor and a pleasure to coach Heath, to watch him grow and evolve and perform. There are great benefits and blessings that come with being some place as long as I have been here. It also creates unique relationships and feelings and experiences that make events such as his retirement difficult. It would be selfish of me to view it in any other way other than a great deal of admiration and appreciation for having an opportunity to work with Heath for nine of the 11 years he has done it."
Team president Art Rooney II said Miller had an "exceptional" career.
"Since he was drafted in the first round in 2005, Heath has been an amazing player on the field and an outstanding contributor in our community. On behalf of the entire Steelers organization and Steelers Nation around the world, I would like to congratulate and thank Heath of his many contributions to the Steelers. The chants of 'HEEATH' will be missed at Heinz Field and around the entire NFL. Heath is the most accomplished tight end in team history and his efforts will not soon be forgotten. We wish his entire family the best in his retirement, and we thank them for being part of the Steelers for 11 great years."
A first-round pick (30th overall) of the Steelers in 2005, Miller is the franchise leader in receptions (592), receiving yards (6,569) and receiving touchdowns (45) by a tight end. Overall, he is second in team history in catches, and fourth in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Only five tight ends in NFL history have recorded more than his 592 career receptions. Miller had at least one reception in 103 straight games, a streak that began on Nov. 20, 2008 and ended on Oct. 25, 2015 (including postseason).
A Virginia native who played college ball at the University of Virginia, Miller, 33, was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion. He was Pittsburgh's team MVP in 2012.
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