A longtime New York Jets fan favorite has finally called it a career.
The organization officially announced on social media that running back Bilal Powell has signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the green and white.
With the signing of his one-day contract today, @BilalPowell29 officially retires as a New York Jet 🙌
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An End to an Amazing Career
Powell originally entered the NFL as the No. 126 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft.
He spent the entirety of his nine-year career in the pros with the Jets:
- 5,275 total yards from scrimmage
- 20 total touchdowns
- 211 receptions
Powell was just a solid and consistent option throughout his entire career. His blue-collar work ethic, infectious smile, and his drive to gain every single possible inch on the gridiron captivated the fan base.
In a statement released on his Twitter account, Powell thanked ownership and all of Jets nation for “making today so special”:
Thank you @woodyjohnson4 and everyone in the entire @nyjets organization for making today so special. Thank you to all the fans, Jet Nation, you are the best. I am officially a #JETFORLIFE
Owner Woody Johnson congratulated Powell on social media with several photos from the retirement ceremony:
Congratulations to the great @bilalpowell29 … one of a kind!
Once a Jet, always a Jet:
Jet for life.
The Jets also released a touching video tribute on social media with some of his former teammates chiming in on a remarkable career:
“One of the most humble, one of the most thoughtful athletes that I’ve ever come across.”
They don’t make many like @BilalPowell29.
What Could Have Been
A day before Powell officially signed his one-day contract to retire as a member of the Jets, he did an exclusive interview with senior reporter Eric Allen to talk about his life.
During that conversation, Powell revealed that throughout his career he had several opportunities to leave and join a Super Bowl contender but always said no because “I wanted to see the trophy come back here, not only for myself, but for the Jets fan base.”
Bilal Powell (@bilalpowell29) told @eallenjets that he had opportunities to leave the #Jets throughout his career but never left because ‘I always wanted to see the trophy come back here, not only for myself, but for the NYJ fan base.’ I’M NOT CRYING 😭😭😭 #TakeFlight
Unfortunately, during his nine-year run with the Jets, Powell never made it to the postseason.
The closest he ever got was back in 2015 when a 10-5 Jets team needed a win in the Week 17 regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills to get into the playoffs.
Gang Green entered on a five-game winning streak and was among the hottest teams in all of football. Sadly the blustery winds of Buffalo doused the Jets’ playoff chances and they lost 22-17 missing out on a chance to make a run.
Playing the always dangerous ‘what if’ game, Powell says if they would’ve made the playoffs that year, they could’ve made history:
“I go back a lot,” he said to Allen during an interview. “I just knew if we would’ve gotten in, we would’ve run the table. I think we were that late-season team that nobody wanted to play. If we would’ve just gotten into the playoffs, I think we would’ve had a chance at running the table.”
That ended up being the only winning season the Jets have had since their back-to-back conference title trips. Gang Green is currently in the midst of the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 11 years and running.
While Powell never enjoyed the postseason success during his career he will forever be remembered as a fan-favorite.
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Jets Fan-Favorite Calls It Quits After 9-Year Career