Former Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.
"Today I am closing a chapter in my life that I once dreamed of as a kid and I am officially retiring from the National Football League," Revis said in a statement.
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) July 18, 2018
The Kansas City Chiefs released Revis on Feb. 8, saving $4.5 million on their salary cap.
Revis played for four teams in 11 seasons -- the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chiefs -- but spent the majority of his career with the Jets. Now 33, he sat out most of last season until signing a two-year contract with the Chiefs on Nov. 23. He played in five games (two starts) plus a playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Fellow cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Logan Ryan saluted Revis on his announcement. Revis earned a Super Bowl ring with Ryan on the 2014 Patriots.
A technician, a legend, A 🐐 #MuchRespect @Revis24 https://t.co/15KPNSKD9H
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) July 18, 2018
One of the best to do it... congrats on a great career✊🏽 #RevisIsland https://t.co/YDeIJNndJe
— Darius Slay (@_bigplayslay23) July 18, 2018
Congrats on a HOF career 🐐 @Revis24! He wasn't the first press corner but he was the best. Now being able to play press man to man is a must in the league. One of the most competitive teammates I ever had & one of the best businessmen he knew his worth! Taught me alot. Respect! pic.twitter.com/8He75XlnpC
— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) July 18, 2018
The Jets released a series of statements later Wednesday. "I spent two seasons with Darrelle and he stands out as one of the smartest players I have ever coached," coach Todd Bowles said in one. "Darrelle was also a player with a relentless dedication to preparation who set a high standard for how he practiced every day. He walks away from this game leaving a stamp that everyone who knows the game will remember."
"Darrelle's preparation, competitiveness, intelligence and attention to detail are a reflection of his dedication to the game and his teammates," chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson said in another. "Jets fans everywhere slept well at night confident that receivers would be stranded on Revis Island."
Revis, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro, in recent years failed to distinguish himself as the dominant player he frequently was early in his career -- a fact Revis acknowledged shortly after the season concluded.
For many of the previous 10 seasons with the Jets, Patriots and Buccaneers, Revis was one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. He earned the nickname "Revis Island'' for his ability to lock up receivers in one-on-one coverage. He is the only defensive back to take home more than $100 million in cash value since his rookie season in 2007.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, with five, is the only cornerback with more first-team All-Pro selections.
Former Jets coach Rex Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, told The Associated Press that "there wasn't anybody close" to Revis during the prime of his career.
"Maybe Deion in his prime, but that would be the only guy. Darrelle could handle anybody. I don't care if it's Hall of Fame guys, he locked them down and covered them and it wasn't even close," Ryan told the AP.
Revis had 29 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder against Miami. In 2009, Revis was beaten out by Charles Woodson for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
"That season, he was far and away the most dominant player in the NFL on defense; that he never got (defensive) MVP that year, people are crazy,'' Ryan told the AP. "The impact this guy had, and on the best defense in the league, I thought he should have won that.''
ESPN's Adam Teicher and The Associated Press contributed to this report.