Rashard Mendenhall is leaving the NFL at 26. Good for him.

(Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)

Today’s big winner: Rashard Mendenhall
Rashard Mendenhall knows we don’t understand.
It’s one of the first things the former Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers running back addresses in his Huffington Post essay “Why I Retired at 26,” which explains the 2008 first-round pick’s recent decision to walk away from the NFL after just six seasons.

“Why would you stop now? You’re only 26 years old! You’re just going to walk away from millions of dollars? Is your knee fully healed? You had a pretty good year last year,” etc. After the initial shock response and realization that I’m not kidding, the question that would continue to arise is: Why?”

Mendenhall goes on to eloquently answer that question in seven lengthy paragraphs, ultimately saying that he enjoyed his time in the NFL but wants to walk away from the game to pursue his outside interests while still in top health.
Fellow running backs Robert Smith and Ricky Williams both faced criticism for leaving the game (although Williams ended up returning) while they were still very capable NFL players and Mendenhall is certainly going to hear some of the same.
What Mendenhall could have made in a one or two-year free agent contract this offseason is more than many people will make in a lifetime. And not wanting to continue putting his body at risk for “entertainment?” There are legions of former high school players who would take that deal right now if they had the ability to do so.  There are plenty of current NFL players who continue to return from countless concussions, surgeries and other physical maladies that will likely haunt them the rest of their lives in exchange for as many final paychecks, moments of glory and opportunities to be part of a team as they can possibly muster.
It’s probably harder for us – the fans, the media and even some fellow players – to understand Mendenhall’s decision than it was for him to make it. Mendenhall made over $13 million during his NFL career. It’s not a major amount compared to other pro athletes, but as long as he doesn’t live lavishly, it’s certainly enough to set him up pretty comfortably for a long time. How many people, if given the opportunity to follow their passions and not worry about finances, wouldn’t consider leaving their jobs to do the same thing?
Unless you’re one of the few people fortunate enough to be working in a career you absolutely love, you’d probably think about it, right? Playing pro football wasn’t Rashard Mendenhall’s dream anymore. Good for him for realizing that and taking the step to figure out what now is.
Today’s other big winners:
Kliff Kingsbury: Why the Texas Tech coach is the coolest guy on college sidelines.
Malik Stewart: The high school wrestler exhibited a great show of sportsmanship in the Minnesota state title match.
Mike Peltz: The Nebraska basketball player proposed to his girlfriend at the end of his senior night speech.
Yannick Noah: The former tennis star is probably the NBA’s most entertaining dad.
Read the Xtreme Win of the Day every weekday morning.