Shaq Barrett RETIRES from the NFL with two-time Super Bowl winner set to 'shift my full focus to my wife and kids' after birth of baby daughter

Veteran linebacker Shaq Barrett has announced his retirement from the NFL. 

Barrett is best known for winning two Super Bowls during his time with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won one with each franchise. 

Barrett cited his family life for the sudden retirement, with his move away from football coming months after signing with the Miami Dolphins. 

Shaq Barrett was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February, missing out on a $15.04million option bonus he was due in March. 

Barrett's last few years have been heartbreaking. His 2-year-old daughter Arrayah drowned in the family swimming pool last April. 

Barrett and his wife Jordanna have since celebrated the birth of another baby girl, with Allanah born nine months on from the tragic death of their fourth child.  

The couple also have sons Braylon, 10, and Shaquil Jr., 11, as well as daughter Aaliyah, 8.

Both of the Super Bowls Barrett won came with one of the best quarterbacks of all-time winning a ring with a new team in the twilight years of their career — Peyton Manning in 2016 and Tom Brady in 2021.  

'It's time for me to hang it up,' Barrett said on social media. 'It's been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I'm ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize (their) dreams and catch (them).'

'Anyone who caught their dreams before know the work, time, and consistency required to reach them,' Barrett continued. 'I'm ready to start building them skills up in my kids which will take 100% commitment .' 

'(I know) to some it'll be a surprise but I've been thinking about this for a while and the decision has never been more clear (than) it is now,' Barrett concluded. 

Last season, Barrett played a 15 out of a possible 17 games, starting in the ones he appeared in. 

Tampa Bay finished first in the NFC South with a 9-8 record, beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs before losing to the Detroit Lions in the Divisional round.