If you were hoping that you had nearly seen the last of Terrell Suggs on the football field with the Baltimore Ravens, then you’d better think again, because T-Sizzle doesn’t plan on going anywhere for a while. The 2003 first-round pick is entering the final year of his contract but plans to continue playing for as long as possible.
Suggs just completed his 15th season in the NFL in 2017, starting 16 games for the first time since 2014. He posted 11 sacks and recorded four forced fumbles, earning his first trip back to the Pro Bowl since 2013, a year in which he recorded 10 sacks in addition to 80 tackles in 16 games.
“To be totally honest with you, I don’t see my peak in my near future”, he said during a conference call with season ticketholders. That would be rather impressive considering that he will turn 36 in October, though he would not be the first edge rusher to play at a high level at that age.
Not only does he see himself continuing to excel on the field, he sees himself remain a leader on the Ravens. “We also have other leaders, but from an offensive and defensive standpoint, absolutely”, he said of himself and Joe Flacco remaining locker room fixtures. “We take that very seriously. We take pride in that. We’re looking forward to doing some special things this year”.
Suggs has had himself a special career that might one day earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame, especially if he puts up a few more 10-sacks seasons. Over the course of his 15 seasons, he has accumulated 125 and a half sacks, significantly more than anybody in Pittsburgh Steelers history.
In additions to 812 tackles, he has forced 34 fumbles and intercepted seven passes, scoring two touchdowns and recording a safety. He has 54 passes defensed. Such work has earned him seven trips to the Pro Bowl, though just two nods on the All-Pro List. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, a year in which he recorded 14 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and two interceptions, along with 70 tackles.
“It’s a trip to get to do it all again”, he said of continuing his career. “I love playing ball. I love being Sizzle. When the time comes for me to just be a full-time dad, a full-time actor, writer, director, producer, I will do all that. But right now, it’s flock. Go flock, Ravens nation”.
Suggs is entering the final year of his contract with the Ravens, who drafted two pass-rushers last year in Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams. Matt Judon and Za’Darius Smith also remain on the roster. But the veteran doesn’t plan on playing in any other uniform, fully expecting to be back in Baltimore in 2019 and beyond. He credits changed in his diet for his late-career success.
