9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey retiring from Steelers

Feb. 12—Citing the "sacrifice" playing pro football carries on his life, nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday.

Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike, made their joint announcement via Maurkice Pouncey's longtime teammate and friend, Ramon Foster, on Foster's verified Twitter page. Foster, a guard, played alongside Pouncey for 10 seasons until retiring last March. Foster co-hosts a radio show in Tennessee.

A member of the 2010's NFL all-decade team, Pouncey later posted the message on his own verified Instagram account.

"I want to thank Maurkice for his outstanding efforts both on and off the field over the past 11 years," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. "He was an amazing teammate and leader that so many looked up to throughout his playing career."

Drafted in the first round in 2010, Pouncey was named to the Pro Bowl during every season in which he played more than one quarter.

Among the most respected players among teammates in the Steelers locker room over the past decade, Pouncey was first-team AP All Pro in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He was second-team All Pro in 2010 and 2018 and a Steelers co-captain for four seasons.

"I respect (Pouncey) so much for all he accomplished during his career," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. "His efforts on the field are matched by his dedication and commitment to the Pittsburgh community and the Lakeland, Fla., community. He has done so much for his teammates and the entire organization.

"I know he will continue to be successful in every aspect of life. Much love, Maurkice."

Several of Pouncey's current and former teammates also reacted via social media to publicly express congratulations and respect.

Pouncey missed six games because of injury/illness over the past two seasons since turning 30 in 2019. The Steelers finished this past season dead last in the NFL in rushing yards, and their surprising blowout playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns was facilitated in part by Pouncey snapping the ball well over Ben Roethlisberger's head on the first play of the game.

After that game, Pouncey and Roethlisberger sat on the bench alone well after almost every other player on both teams had retreated to their locker rooms. Roethlisberger in particular visibly had tears in his eyes as he sat with Pouncey, arguably his closest friend on the team.

"I love that guy (Pouncey)," Roethlisberger said that day. "He is one of the best competitors and teammates I've ever had. It's been so much fun to share a football field with him."

Pouncey and Roethlisberger have said at times they would retire together. It remains to be seen if Roethlisberger will return for an 18th season at age 39 or if Pouncey's news affects Roethlisberger's fate.

"Big Ben my Brother for life," Pouncey's message read, "we ride together we die together bad boys for life."

Pouncey's retirement leaves the Steelers with a $6.48 million "dead money" hit on their 2021 salary cap, according to overthecap.com. If he would have played this season, Pouncey was due an $8 million salary that the Steelers can now lop off their 2021 cap.

Pouncey's backup in 2020 was J.C. Hassenauer, whose bulk of pro experience came in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football in 2019. A backup throughout his college tenure at Alabama, Hassenauer started three 2020 games in place of Pouncey.

Pouncey's retirement means the Steelers could have as many as four new starters on their offensive line in 2021. Left guard Matt Feiler, left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and right tackle Zach Banner (who had a torn ACL in the opener) are set for unrestricted free agency.

"I'll always love the game of football (and) always will be the ultimate competitor in life," read Pouncey's message. "I'm (just) not in love with the sacrifice football carries on my life, my beautiful daughters Jayda, Marley (and) my family."

Born a minute later than Maurkice, Mike Pouncey played next to his brother at the University of Florida. He played nine NFL seasons for the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers.

"As I write this farewell speech I cry (and) I laugh that twin boys from Lakeland (Fla.) that grew up in poverty made it this far in life both living out NFL dreams," Maurkice Pouncey wrote.

The brothers pledged to keep up their work for the TeamPouncey Foundation, through which they have distributed more than $10 million in grants. Pouncey has been an advocate for underprivileged youth and on behalf of law enforcement.

Pouncey and Roethlisberger were the lone active players remaining on the Steelers who were on the roster the most recent time they made the Super Bowl in February 2011. Pouncey, though, did not play in that Super Bowl 45 loss because of an ankle injury.

Pouncey's note thanked myriad members of the Steelers organization past and present.

"SteelersNation thank you for all the support (and) amazing energy at every single home game (and) away game," Pouncey wrote. "I love Yinz!!"

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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .