Steelers Make Surprising Move And Put Linebacker Markus Golden On Retired List

To help with edge rusher depth, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought back Markus Golden for another round. He was signed to the team after two separate edge rushers, Kyron Johnson and David Perales, both went down with injury during training camp. Perales was later released to make room for Golden. Even though he was expected to just be the fourth edge rusher on the depth chart, he was still seen as a guy that can make an impact with the few snaps that he receives, although that is no longer the case. 

The Steelers announced on X that they have officially placed Golden on the Reserve/Retired list, meaning that he has retired from the NFL. This announcement came out of nowhere, especially since the Steelers will be playing a preseason game later on Friday. What looked like a great signing to bring in depth, only lasted eight days, as the former star edge rusher has officially called it quits.

The Steelers have previously made the move to switch DeMarvin Leal from defensive lineman to outside linebacker / edge rusher. There seemed to be a competition between him and Golden for that last spot, but with this move, it looks like Leal will win the spot on the roster by default. Leal came into the preseason fighting for a job after a very disappointing 2023 campaign, but after the recent news, it looks like he will stick on the team for another year. 

Golden Retires As A Steeler

Golden had a great career overall, racking up 51 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 343 tackles over his nine-year career. Even though his best days weren't in Pittsburgh, the last jersey that he has worn is officially a Steelers one, unless he later decides to sign a one-day deal with the Arizona Cardinals where he had his best moments. He also had a quick, but effective stint with the New York Giants before going back to Arizona. 

Golden had four sacks in limited time with the Steelers. Even as a depth piece, he was a dominant force that made opposing linemen work, even when one of the star edge rushers were taking a break for the Steelers. He seemed to still have some gas left in the tank, but after a week of training camp, it seems like he believes otherwise. In the end, he had a great career, and he left on his own terms. 

What do you think about Golden suddenly retiring from the NFL? Let us know in the comments.

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