Mike Iupati played 11 seasons in the NFL and never left the NFC West. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. After 11 seasons, he is calling it a career.
His body made it clear it was time.
“My body was telling me it was time to close the door,” he said, according to The Spokesman-Review’s Peter Harriman.
His career began as a first-round draft pick out of Idaho with the 49ers in 2010. He played five seasons there before signing a five-year, $40 million deal with the Cardinals in 2015. He played four seasons for Arizona before heading to Seattle, spending two seasons with the Seahawks.
He was an All-Pro in 2012 and was selected to the Pro Bowl four straight seasons from 2012-2015, the last time being his first with Arizona.
He is the last Cardinals offensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl.
Though he made it through 11 NFL seasons, his career was marked by nagging injuries. After 2012, he only played all 16 games in a season once.
He now retires to his home in Idaho to spend time with his wife and four children, from ages 8 down to a newborn.
For his career, he earned more than $50 million in 11 seasons.
[vertical-gallery id=449355]
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
Latest show:
Previous shows:
and