Report: RB Rashard Mendenhall to retire

By Josh Katzowitz | NFL Writer

March 08, 2014 10:28 PM ET



At the age of 26, Rashard Mendenhall has decided to retire. (USATSI)



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After spending the first five years of his career with the Steelers, running back Rashard Mendenhall signed with the Cardinals before the 2013 season and played decently enough, gaining a team-high 687 rushing yards and scoring eight touchdowns.


But he penned a piece for the Huffington Post last month in which he not-so-cryptically wrote, "As I write this, today is the day that the journey is over and I am fully at peace. Eagerly looking to a new way, which lies ahead."


As such, Mendenhall, who CBSSports.com ranked No. 139 on this offseason's free agent list, is telling teams that he's retired, according to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.


Mendenhall was most effective during his second and third seasons in the league, gaining 1,109 yards in 2009 and 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010 for Pittsburgh. But a few months before his 27th birthday, Mendenhall apparently has decided he's had enough.


And now, he's off to the rest of his life.

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