Clinton Portis – Two-time Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis will officially retire as a Washington Redskin on Thursday, the team announced.
The nine-year veteran hasn’t played a down in the NFL since an injury-plagued 2010 season. He played in just five games that year, rushing for 227 yards on 54 carries while battling groin and abdomen maladies. The Redskins released the former University of Miami star the following season.
Portis, who was a second-round draft of the Denver Broncos in 2002, averaged 4.4 yards per carry for his career while rushing for 9,923 yards and 75 touchdowns on 2,230 carries. He totaled 6,824 and 46 touchdowns on 1,667 attempts while playing for Washington from 2004-2010, ranking him second in team all-time rushing annals behind only Hall of Famer John Riggins’ franchise record of 7,472 rushing yards.
Portis issued the following “thank you” note to fans:
I entered this city wide-eyed and excited. I was a 22-year old kid who didn’t know the storied history or the timeless legacy that is The Redskin Nation. What I did know was that I was called upon to deliver more than just touchdowns. I was brought here to work alongside a great group of teammates to uplift the spirits of an organization, a community, and the best fans in the world.
Today, I hang up my jersey and untie my cleats. I reflect on my time here as some of the best times I can remember and hope that it is as memorable for you as it is for me. I want to thank my teammates, my family, and my fans for all the love and support and for allowing me to grow from a boy into a man in a city that I will forever love.
A special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder for everything they have done for me and my family, Coach Shannahan for giving me the chance of a lifetime, and Coach Gibbs for making me a man. LOVE YOU ALL!
Redskin Nation Forever HTTR
Portis was highly respected by Redskins fans and coaches alike for his tireless work ethic, deft skills as a pass blocker and unmistakable locker room presence.
He earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year accolades in 2002 after chewing up 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns. Portis followed that up with another spectacular campaign in 2003, rushing for 1,591 yards and 14 more scores.
Denver traded him when he began talking about a new contract, swapping him in a blockbuster deal with the Redskins in 2004 in exchange for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick.
Some critics had questioned whether Portis was simply a product of Denver’s zone blocking schemes and whether he would thrive in the much more physical, power running game preferred by the Redskins. Portis wasted no time in answering the naysayers, rushing for at least 1,300 yards in four of his first five seasons in Washington before nagging injuries eventually ended his career.
The Gainesville, Fla. native helped lead the University of Miami to the 2001 National Championship. He rushed for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries that year, punctuated by a 104-yard, one-score effort in his team’s 37-14 Rose Bowl trashing of Nebraska.
