Start the Hall of Fame clock: Darrelle Revis announces his retirement

Darrelle Revis’ peak was as good as any we’ve seen from a cornerback.

“Revis Island” became one of the best nicknames in sports, and it was accurate. In his prime, Revis locked down many great receivers. The end came quickly though, and Revis officially announced his retirement Wednesday on Instagram.

With that, the five-year waiting period for the Pro Football Hall of Fame starts.

Revis was one of the greats

As a first-round pick of the New York Jets in 2007, he came in and made an immediate impact. By his second season, he made the first of his seven Pro Bowls.

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For most of his career, Revis shadowed his opponent’s best receiver and usually took him out of the game. Revis made four All-Pro teams. He took a spot alongside Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey, Patrick Peterson and a few select others as one of the best cornerbacks of the past few decades.

Success with many teams

Revis didn’t end up as a lifelong Jet. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he spent the 2013 season. He made a Pro Bowl there. The Buccaneers moved on, and the New England Patriots pounced. The Patriots added him as a free agent on what was structured to be a one-year deal. That season, he was part of a Super Bowl championship team. He made another Pro Bowl, and was named first-team All-Pro.

Revis then went back to the Jets. He made one more Pro Bowl. But there were signs of decline early in his second Jets stint.

A strange finish

Revis signed a five-year, $70 million deal to return to the Jets. One of his legacies was as a master negotiator, who ended up signing deals that added up to well over $200 million in his career. But after a poor 2016 season, he wasn’t the same player and the Jets cut him.

Revis was unsigned most of last season, before hooking on with the Chiefs in midseason. He played five games with Kansas City, and then was released. For a great career, it was an unusual way to end it. But until the end, Revis maximized his earning ability.

Ultimately, Revis’ legacy will be as a four-time All-Pro, Super Bowl champion and one of the best cornerbacks of his era. And, at some point, his legacy will include a spot in Canton.

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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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