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Former Giants security guard Antoine Bethea #41 looks from the bench during the second half against the Chicago Bears in a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
After 14 years in the NFL, three Pro Bowl finals and a Super Bowl victory, security guard Antoine Bethea has decided to announce his retirement.
Bethea used Twitter on Thursday to share a heartfelt announcement with its supporters. The 36-year-old Georgian revealed that he is retiring after 27 years of playing, 14 of which as a professional. He has had to fight the Indianapolis Colts, the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals and, recently, the New York Giants.
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Это была была отличная поездка! ✊ #ConcreteSelf pic.twitter.com/9QVo8JA3tw
– 6. Antoine Bethea (AB41) (@ABethea41) January 2021
Bethea spoke of his affection for the many franchises and stands he encountered during his long tenure in the NFL, including Giants co-owners Jonah Mara and Steve Tisch.
Finally, Betaa thanks Mara and Tish’s family and the New York Giants before channeling her inner Eli Manning. Once a giant, always a giant.
Bethea, who did not play last season, is one of the main contributors to Big Blue in 2019. The veteran came to New York largely because of his relationship with James Betcher, the defense coordinator for the Giants in their Arizona days, and quickly established himself as a major player.
When he drew, Bethea was supposed to play a bigger role in the game. Bethea quickly dispelled that idea by leading all Giants defenders to defensive positions. In fact, his absurd 1,132 snaps that were played in 2019 were the fourth in the entire league.
Bethea started all 16 games in 2019 and recorded 110 tackles and one interception. His teammates also voted for the defensive captain.
After signing with the Giants in 2019, Bethea’s teammates elected him captain of the defense. He started all 16 games this season and recorded 110 tackles, six defensive assists and one interception.
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Betthea’s brilliant career in the NFL
Despite the high level of commitment, the team decided not to opt for a contract option last season. In return, he ended his one-year stay in East Rutherford and ended 14 years with the SFL.
In a career that included 209 games (200 starts), Bethea collected 25 stems, nine fumbles and a defensive touchdown, as well as 9.5 sacks and 1,333 tackles in total. This last figure was, according to Tim Daniels’ H/T Bleacher report, the highest among the active players before his retirement.
Not bad for a sixth round design pick at Howard University.
Bethea’s exceptional game has earned him three Pro Bowl appearances in his career: two with the Indianapolis Colts (2007, 2009) and one with the San Francisco 49ers (2014). He was also part of the Colts team that won the Super Bowl XLI and defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17, while Peyton Manning, a 2021 Hall of Fame finalist, helped win his first Lombardi trophy.
After Bethea announced his retirement, he was quickly showered with love and praise from his former teammates and many big names in the sports world, including but not limited to B. Pat McAfee, Darius Butler and Torrey Holt.
I told you, I’m always looking for a reason to party. I tweeted former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne. My street friend Antoine Bethea retired today. Great career. A great team. Big broth. I learned a lot from you, brother. Enjoy the next chapter.
Jim Irsay, owner of Colts, also spoke on Twitter. Antoine, congratulations on a great career and thanks for representing the Colts and the game with integrity and class, he said.
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