New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins announced Wednesday on social media that he will retire from the NFL, ending a 13-year career. Jenkins wrote: “Grateful. After 13 seasons, my time on the football field has come to an end. I’m just a boy from Piscataway, who through this game became a champion in the sport and a champion for the people. My time on the field may be over, but I’ll never stop fighting for the people.”
The 34-year-old Jenkins spent the past two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He totaled 79 tackles, five passes defensed, an interception, a touchdown, a sack and a forced fumble in 16 starts in 2021. The three-time Pro Bowl safety spent his first five seasons with the Saints and won a Super Bowl with the franchise in 2010. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 and won a Super Bowl with that franchise in 2018. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a news release: “In so many ways, Malcolm Jenkins defined everything we want a Philadelphia Eagles to be. He was talented, intelligent, versatile and reliable. He was physically and mentally tough. He led with his words, with his actions, and with the professionalism he brought every single day to our building.”
Jenkins, a two-time Super Bowl champion, also was known for his off-field efforts. He was given the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award in 2016 for his impact on his team’s city and communities across the country. Saints coach Dennis Allen said in a news release: “I recall when we first drafted Malcolm in 2009, he made contributions to a Super Bowl championship team in multiple positions in the secondary and then pretty quickly developed into an outstanding safety. The combination of skill, awareness and intelligence allowed Malcolm to be in position to make plays all over the field. To put up the numbers he did for as long as he did speaks both to his talent and his commitment to his craft. He was also a great leader in the locker room and important contributor to the community. I’m proud to say that I had the opportunity to coach Malcolm and congratulate him on an excellent career.”
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