Former Colts Linebacker Pat Angerer is Retiring from the NFL

On twitter this morning, former Colts linebacker Pat Angerer announced his retirement from the National Football League.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="http://t.co/vILZnKzSAg">pic.twitter.com/vILZnKzSAg</a></p>&mdash; Pat Angerer (@PAngererUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PAngererUSA/status/522010040316997632">October 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His message in the tweet reads: "All I ever wanted to do was play for Bettendorf and that gave me the chance to be a Hawk.  Then, I'll I ever wanted to do was step on the field in Kinnick and that changed my life.  I want to walk away while I'm still able to give my wife and kids the man they deserve.  I have given this sport all I got.  It wouldn't be fair to the game, the team, my family, and my name to continue along this path any longer.  It's time to get healthy.  I've learned so much from so many great men along the way.  I'm proud I was able to get a degree from a prestigious college and make a living playing a kid's game.  I had a lot of fun and I've been extremely fortunate.  I'm excited about whatever the future entails.  Thank you all for having my back."

Angerer was drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2010 draft and had a very good four-year career with the franchise.  He played in 54 career games (starting 39) and recorded 327 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles.  He was one of the few bright spots in the 2011 season, leading the team and finishing fourth overall in the league with 148 tackles.  Injuries plagued him in his later years, though, as he had multiple surgeries on his foot that caused him to miss games and then a knee injury.

He signed with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason but was cut in late August, and since then he has had several tryouts with NFL teams but hasn't been signed.  Between that and his injuries, the decision for him to retire is a smart one, albeit certainly a hard one for him, I'm sure.

Angerer was a player who deserved a lot of credit with the Colts.  He was always battling and always fighting, including a 2011 season in which there wasn't much to fight for as the losses kept coming in.  He played through a number of injuries and always did all he could to be on the field, and was a very good young linebacker and person for the Colts who's career just got derailed by injuries.  Colts fans will always remember Angerer fondly, because he did things the right way.  He's retiring the right way also - doing so to get healthy and to prioritize his family.

Myself, along with the rest of us at Stampede Blue, wish Pat Angerer all the best in retirement.