Cornerback Prince Amukamara officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday and signed a one-day contract so that he could go out with the New York Giants.
“I always thought retirement was you go to an island, you look at the ocean, and you have a cold beverage on your side,” Amukamara said in his retirement speech on Thursday. “But seeing guys like [Michael] Strahan, Eli [Manning], [Victor] Cruz, mastering something after football, I feel like as athletes, we’re used to routine, we’re competitive, and so we’re not meant to just sit down and do nothing.
“I plan on doing something purposeful. I’ve always lived by if being a football player was the only thing I was known for, then I haven’t really accomplished anything in life.”
Thankful. pic.twitter.com/eNi3hcvV8L
— Prince Amukamara (@PrinceAmukamara) August 24, 2023
Amukamara was a first-round pick (18th overall) of the Giants in the 2011 NFL draft and helped the organization pick up their fourth Super Bowl championship during his rookie year.
In total, Amukamara spent five years with the Giants before becoming somewhat of a journeyman.
“I have a lot of special memories here,” an emotional Amukamara added, making specific note of the 2011 team. “That was a special team. I haven’t been on another team like that since.”
After leaving the Giants via free agency in 2016, Amukamara had stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.
Amukamara last played in 2019 but was part of multiple practice squads from 2020 through 2021.
Over 11 NFL seasons, Amukamara appeared in 113 games (99 starts), recording 477 tackles (417 solo, 11 for a loss), six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 78 passes defensed, 10 interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Amukamara appeared in 55 games with the Giants, including 45 regular season starts. Seven of his 10 career interceptions came with Big Blue.
Amukamara, who has royal Nigerian bloodlines, and his wife, Pilar, have five children.
“I truly love the saying, ‘Once a Giant, always a Giant.’ It started here for me and I am happy it ends here,” Amukamara said. “I’m thankful and grateful to say I am going to be a Giant forever.”
Once a Giant, Always a Giant, indeed.
