Although Hines Ward fell from one of the top receivers in the league to the number 3 receiver on the Steelers this season, he is not ready to consider retirement. Ward responded to reports suggesting that teammates believed he was considering retirement.
“I’m also getting lots of questions about retirement so let me set the record straight: I have no plans on retiring right now,” Ward wrote. “I want to win another Superbowl. I don’t know where the media is getting this info from but rest assured that when I decide to retire, you’ll hear it from ME first.”
Ward was still a solid contributor this season, as he had 46 receptions for 381 yards and 2 TDs, but the emergence of Mike Wallace (72 receptions for 1,193 yards) and Antonio Brown (69 receptions for 1,108) yards have given the Steelers perhaps the best young pair of wide receivers in the league. Wallace just finished his third year, and Brown his second.
Ward will likely have to be content with slot receiver duties next year with his talented young teammates, assuming he stays with the Steelers. Ward just finished his 14th season, and has 12,083 receiving yards and 85 TDs in his career. His 1,000 career receptions puts him eighth on the all time list, just ahead of Randy Moss and Hall-of-Fame finalist Andre Reed.
