Arian Foster signed with the Miami Dolphins this offseason in an attempt to try and regain the form that he had between 2010-2013. But in the process of that, he’s battled injuries and the emergence of Jay Ajayi.
Ajayi’s performance of two straight 200-yard rushing performances likely play no factor to the retirement of the former Texans star RB, but I can say it may have been a sign for the free thinker. Foster is retiring immediately and will not play out the rest of the 2016 NFL regular season, and he seems at peace with that decision.
As Foster told The Uninterrupted on Monday, “Faceless gladiators have been shuffled in and out of this arena for decades, and I’m proud to have taken part in that legacy. My father always said, ‘You’ll know when it’s time to walk away.’ It has never been more clear than right now. I’m walking away with peace. I know it’s not commonplace to do it midseason, but my body just can’t take the punishment this game asks for any longer. Every athlete would love to go out as a Super Bowl MVP, riding off into the sunset with the crowd cheering their name. Unfortunately, life has other plans, and they’re usually opposite the imagination. But that imagination got me this far, and I could not be prouder of the things my teammates and I accomplished in this game.”
Foster was once a Tennessee Volunteer and went undrafted in the 2009 Draft, but he fought long and hard to eventually earn the starting job in Houston where he became the star. He recorded 1,200 rushing yards and 10TDs+ between 2010-12 and was an elite RB in the league.
Injuries started to hit Foster during the 2013 season. After having his brother as his personal trainer, and failing to stay healthy consistently. Houston lets go of him at the end of the 2015 season. Now his time in Miami has proven to be more of the same. He seems to be at peace with his decision and we will remember him as a player who emerged from an undrafted free agent to fantasy football darling.