The former Cleveland Browns, Joe Haden is retiring after 12 seasons, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.
Joe Haden : News | Team 2022 | College | free agent
Coming out of Florida, Haden was projected to be a first-round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts.
He received an invitation to the NFL Combine and completed all of the required combine and positional drills.
Haden disappointed scouts with a 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash, which is average for an NFL cornerback, but it was later revealed he had a sore back at that time.
On March 17, 2010, he participated at Florida’s pro day and opted to rerun the 40, 20, and 10-yard dash as well as the short shuttle. He was able to shorten his time in all, running a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, a 2.60 in the 20, and a 1.53 in the ten-yard dash.
Over 75 representatives from all 32 NFL teams attended including head coaches Eric Mangini (Browns), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), John Fox (Panthers), Raheem Morris (Buccaneers), and Tom Coughlin (Giants) He was ranked as the top cornerback prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com and SI.com.
News
After a 12-year career spent in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Joe Haden is walking away from the game.
The former Pro Bowl cornerback plans to retire, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper).
While Haden drew some interest this offseason, he did not sign with a team ahead of training camp. The 33-year-old defender ended his career as a 149-game starter.
That ranks as a top-50 total in NFL history at cornerback. Among active corners, only Patrick Peterson has lined up as a first-stringer more often.
The Cardinals, Dolphins, Rams and Raiders showed interest this offseason, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). Haden was said to be weighing offers.
If so, none of the teams’ proposals did enough to convince him to play a 13th season, but Fowler adds the longtime starter entered free agency planning to do so.
Joe Haden team 2022
Six years after last suiting up for the Browns, Joe Haden could soon be returning to Cleveland, after all.
The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, unsigned since his Steelers contract expired in March, posted a picture of himself in a Browns uniform on Instagram this week, indicating he and the team have had a “discussion” about his NFL future.
Haden, who previously teased a potential reunion in May by sharing pictures of both his Browns and Steelers jerseys, spent the last five years in Pittsburgh team.
The Browns aren’t necessarily thin at cornerback, with Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams atop the depth chart. (Ward just this offseason signed a five-year, $100 million extension to become one of the game’s highest-paid players.)
After trading veteran reserve Troy Hill back to the Rams during the draft, however, Cleveland could be looking for additional experience off the bench. Both Ward and Williams are recovering from injuries ahead of training camp.
Haden, 33, was originally a first-round pick of the Browns in 2010, going seventh overall out of Florida. He emerged as a Pro Bowl cover man for the team, spending the first seven seasons of his career in town.
Joe Haden college
Haden accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators football team from 2007 to 2009.
As a true freshman in 2007, Haden started 12 games at cornerback, missing one game due to an ankle sprain.
He became the first true freshman to start a game at cornerback for the Gators on opening day, and finished the season with 63 tackles and an interception.
He was recognized as a freshman All-American by the Sporting News and Collegefootballnews.com and was an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) freshman selection.
As a sophomore in 2008, Haden started all 14 games, recording 87 tackles, and three interceptions—including an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown (the fourth longest in Gators history).
In the Gators’ 24–14 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Championship Game, he had 10 tackles and three pass break-ups.
During his junior year in 2009, he had 68 tackles, four interceptions and three quarterback sacks. After the season, he was a first-team All-SEC selection, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.
He also shared the Gators’ most valuable player award with quarterback Tim Tebow, and was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Sporting News.
Free Agent
Pittsburgh didn’t re-sign Haden after last season, and he started the 2022 campaign as a free agent. Haden denied reports that he rejected a return to the Steelers this offseason.
The Florida product’s retirement comes a day before the Browns host the Steelers on Thursday Night Football.
Haden, 33, was originally a first-round pick of the Browns in 2010, going seventh overall out of Florida. He emerged as a Pro Bowl cover man for the team, spending the first seven seasons of his career in town.
Injuries limited him over his final two years with the Browns, but Haden rebounded after joining the rival Steelers in 2017, starring as Pittsburgh’s top corner for several high-ranked defenses and posting one of the best interception totals (5) of his career in 2019.
He missed five games in 2021, his last with the Steelers, due to an ankle injury.
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