NFL
Biggest Takeaways From Michael Bennett’s Retirement
34-year-old Michael Bennett has decided to call it a career after 11 years in the league and these are how people will remember the Super Bowl Champion's legacy
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Former undrafted free agent Michael Bennett was an integral piece to one of the most legendary defenses of this generation as the premier pass rusher to assist the Legion of Boom. Bennett had the best stint of his career in Seattle and earned the opportunity to host the Lombardi trophy during the Seahawks first title in franchise history. These takeaways elaborate on the legacy that will be left by the 11-year veteran.
UPDATE: 3x Pro Bowl DE Michael Bennett has announced his retirement from the NFL at 34 years old after an 11-year career pic.twitter.com/ESi7651UUX
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 21, 2020
Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril are arguably the best free-agent signings in Seahawks history. Bennett's career in Seattle (2013-17):
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) July 21, 2020
* 39 sacks (7th in club history)
* Three Pro Bowls
* Super Bowl ring
News story on Bennett retiring after 11 seasons: https://t.co/8kEzIX096V
Michael Bennett was destined to have success in Seattle, as he had unfinished business after being cut by the franchise in 2009. Under Pete Carroll’s tutelage, Michael Bennet learned the sacrifices it took to become a championship player. Although the Seahawks could’ve won consecutive Super Bowls if Pete Carroll handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, everyone forgets that Legion of Boom defense gave up 14 points to Tom Brady’s Patriots in that fourth quarter. Bennett will still forever be one of the main pillars to this past decade’s most polarizing team.
Michael Bennett’s ability to play inside was a match up nightmare for interior lineman due to his length, quickness, and elusiveness. What made Bennett so good was he also dominated on the outside because he was a change of pace D-Lineman due to his size and strength which tackles are not accustomed to facing. Part of becoming a championship-caliber player requires positional versatility and finding ways to stay on the field every single down. That’s how Michael Bennett aided the Legion of Boom, not only was he a pass rushing menace on the outside but he was also willing to clog gaps on the inside and free the LB’s to make plays.
The Texas A&M product had his most productive years from 2015-17 as he posted 23.5 Sacks, 46 TFL’s, and 73 QBH’s during that time span. Michael Bennett was playing at such an elite level that he was elected to the Pro Bowl regardless of the fact that he only played in 11 games with just five sacks in 2016. Nonetheless, Seattle could not find a way to return to the Super Bowl, ultimately bringing the dominance of the “Legion of Boom” to an unworthy ending.
Michael Bennett made an amazing career as a defensive lineman wearing kicker shoulder pads and numbers in the 70s.
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) July 21, 2020
A true football icon. pic.twitter.com/66gKS58uSj
Michael Bennett was about as durable as it gets throughout his 11-year tenure in the NFL, but he became an iron man over the last 8 years of his career. Over that time span, Michael Bennett only missed six total games which is a rare feat for any defensive lineman in the trenches. What’s even more impressive is in his final two seasons (age 33-34) Bennett played in 31 of his team’s 32 games and his only missed game was because he was traded mid-season.
Michael Bennett started to transition to being a situational pass rusher towards the end of his career. The former three-time Pro Bowler went from averaging around 80% of his team’s snaps to 69% in 2018, and then down to 53% in 2019. Despite only starting 11 games during that two-year span, Bennett was a productive player posting 15.5 sacks over the last two years of his career, proving he’s walking away with plenty left in the tank.
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