Another Bucs Pro Bowler Follows Tom Brady Into Retirement
The Bucs drafted Ali Marpet out of D-III Hobart College in the 2nd round of the 2015 Draft, and despite his prior level of competition, Marpet was a very good pro as soon as he stepped on an NFL football field. It's amazing he went from playing against the likes of your cousin's 5'10" husky boyfriend you met on Thanksgiving to the guys like Aaron Donald and didn't miss a beat. Marpet continued to get better year after year and in the past two seasons, won a Super Bowl in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021.
His finest game may have been his final game against what many consider to be the best player in the league.
Having broken down the All-22 for his entire career, I've watched every single snap the guy has taken from multiple angles. Some of my favorite performances include:
When he made his case for the best Left Guard in Football the day Quenton Nelson came to town
Setting the tone in a must win game vs. Minnesota after the bye which set us on an 8-game winning streak that ended in a Super Bowl Championship
Literally any time he was out in space
This creates a big hole at Left Guard, but you can't help but be happy for the guy. An incredible career that will likely result in his name being in the Bucs Ring of Honor one day. It was a privilege to watch him week in and week out. Thank you Ali!