By: NFLHeads
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is close to announcing his retirement. Pouncey has had an incredible career, and now it’s time for the wrap up.
Maurkice Pouncey played college football at the University of Florida from 2007-2010, and was one of the highest graded centers in college football in his last year. Pouncey had become a full time starter by 2008, and was a consensus All-American by the time his last year had wrapped up in the University of Florida. Coming into the draft, Pouncey was graded as the best center in the draft.
Pouncey was drafted in the first round (18th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. Pouncey was immediately a 16 game starter, and was elected to his first Pro Bowl in his rookie year, as well as a Second Team All-Pro award. Pouncey’s elite play continued in 2011 and 2012, being elected to not only the Pro Bowl, but the First Team All-Pro both years as well. Unfortunately, Pouncey’s 2013 season was cut short with an ACL and MCL tear in week 1, which landed him on injured reserve for the rest of the year.
Pouncey returned at full strength in 2014, Pouncey made yet another Pro Bowl and his third and final First Team All-Pro award. Injuries again hit Pouncey in 2015, after suffering a broken fibula in the preseason. Pouncey came back and continued to play dominantly, making a Pro Bowl in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and made a Second Team All-Pro in 2018. Pouncey signed a three year contract worth $33 million in the offseason which resulted in him being the highest paid center in the NFL.
Pouncey was again elite in 2019, but saw some significant action in that season. Pouncey was involved with a brawl involving Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph, Pouncey received a two game suspension and was able to come back towards the very end of the season, and his performance was still enough to make a Pro Bowl appearance.
Pouncey’s last year was only marred by being put on the COVID list for a short time, his season still awarded his last Pro Bowl and one more Second Team All-Pro.
So let’s wrap up… Pouncey made a Pro Bowl every single year he was active, that’s nine Pro Bowls in all. Pouncey also made 5 All-Pro appearances, three of which were on the First Team. Pouncey has built to me a resume that should definitely be considered for the Hall of Fame, and he is without a doubt one of the best centers the game has ever seen. We will miss Pouncey in the NFL, although I guess his identical twin Mike is still around.
