It’s been a relatively quiet start to free agency for the Baltimore Ravens, but that changed with some unexpected news. Veteran defensive tackle Michael Pierce announced on the Sports Spectrum podcast that he’s retiring after nine seasons in the NFL, officially bringing his career to an end.
Pierce spent seven of those nine years in Baltimore, making his mark as one of the team’s most reliable run-stuffers. Undrafted out of Samford in 2016, he fought his way onto the roster and never looked back. He had a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 but ultimately returned to the Ravens, where he remained a key piece of their defensive front.
Now, at 32 years old, Pierce is hanging up the cleats, leaving behind a legacy as one of Baltimore’s best undrafted success stories.
Michael Pierce walks away after nine NFL seasons
Pierce revealed his decision during an interview with former Bears running back Matt Forte and former ESPN producer Jason Romano.
“After much prayer, talking to my family, just going through the grind, man, and just being satisfied where I am, looking forward to doing other things in my life, I just decided to call it a career,” Pierce said.
While he was never a stat-sheet stuffer, his impact was undeniable. He finished his career with 238 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 25 quarterback hits, but his real value was in the trenches—clogging lanes, eating double teams, and making life miserable for opposing running backs.
Pierce signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Vikings in 2020 but opted out due to COVID-19. He returned to the Ravens in 2022 and later inked a two-year, $7.5 million extension to finish his career in Baltimore.
Of course, one of his most unforgettable moments came in Week 18 last season when he snagged his first career interception against the Cleveland Browns. With open field in front of him, Pierce took a knee instead of rumbling toward the end zone, later explaining, “The bus was out of gas.”
With Pierce’s retirement, the Ravens lose a key veteran presence on the defensive line. But if there’s one thing Baltimore does well, it’s finding and developing defensive linemen. Pierce defied the odds as an undrafted free agent, became a fan favorite, and now gets to walk away on his own terms.
Enjoy retirement, Big Mike. You earned it.