Former Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett retires from NFL

With much of the attention during the offseason focused on how the league and the union would address the questions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a void when it comes to actual football related news. However, between the the two sides reaching agreement on some core issues Monday and an a report Tuesday morning regarding former Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman, there are some actual football-related news stories finally showing up.

Specifically, while fans and observers have spent much of the offseason wondering who will be playing for the Seahawks on the defensive line and where the pass rush will come from, one name hopeful fans can reportedly cross off the list is former Seahawk Michael Bennett.

Bennett originally signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009 after the completion of his college career at Texas A&M. He managed to make the 53 man roster out of training camp as a rookie, however, was waived on the eve of the Hawks 41-0 trouncing of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 of the season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers then claimed Bennett on waivers, and Bennett stayed with the Bucs through the conclusion of the 2012 season.

At that point Bennett returned to Seattle as a free agent on a one year contract, teaming up with fellow 2013 free agent Cliff Avril to create a formidable defensive front. That front also included Clinton McDonald, Bruce Irvin, Chris Clemons and Red Bryant to form the most dominant defensive line group in franchise history, and a group which would help the team hoist its first ever Lombardi trophy.

In spite of the success the team enjoyed early in his time in Seattle, as the years drew on a rift appeared to grow between the team and the outspoken Bennett, and following the 2017 season he was jettisoned to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fifth round pick and a special teamer who would never make the regular season roster for the Hawks. After spending 2018 in Philly, Bennett’s 2019 season was split between the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys, and his career now comes to a conclusion with his final snaps having been played in his home state of Texas.

Best of luck to Bennett as he joins his brother Martellus Bennett, a former tight end who played for the Cowboys, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Patriots and Green Bay Packers, in retirement.