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Hurricane Legend Vince Wilfork Retires

Big Vince retires from the NFL after 13 years

By Justin Dottavio
NFL: AFC Divisional-Houston Texans at New England Patriots David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

In a sign of how old I am- Vince Wilfork retires from the NFL after 13 years of being the biggest and baddest man on the field. Big Vince is billed favorably as 6-2 325 but if you’ve ever met the guy in person is about as wide as he is tall. Vince has a big smile and a big motor (usually a phrase reserved for another type of player). The NFL won’t be the same without the nose tackle plugging up holes and winning Super Bowls.

At Miami

Vince came to Miami after picking up 75 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior at Santaluces High in Florida. He was a top ranked defensive tackle in the country and made the Blue Chip All-American list by Max Emfinger as well as the USA Today All-American team.

Vince got immediate playing time on the 2001 national title team logging 41 tackles and a sack. In 2002, Vince had 43 tackles and 7 sacks for the second best team in the country. Vince anchored the 2003 line that only lost 2 games with 64 tackles and 20 hurries making All-Big East First Team.

Vince decided to go pro after three years and had a solid NFL Combine. Vince ran a 5.08 in the 40 yard dash at 6-1 and 3/8 and 340lbs. He then exploded for a 26 inch vert and 36 reps at 225 on the bench press.

NFL Career

Wilfork was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2004 NFL Draft as the 21st pick in the 1st round. Wilfork was a starter in Super Bowl XXXIX (2004) as a rookie. Wilfork totaled 42 tackles and 2 sacks as a rookie. He proceeded to win Super Bowl XLIX (2014 season) after being a 5-time Pro Bowler first team All-Pro and three time second team All-Pro. Big Vince stayed with the Patriots from 2004-2014 before signing with the Houston Texans. Vince spent two years with the Texans before retiring heading into the 2017 season.

Vince finished his NFL career with 599 tackles, 16 sacks, and three interceptions (yes, interceptions) over 13 seasons. Wilfork will easily make the Patriots Hall of Fame and should be in the NFL Hall of Fame as well. A great person off the field- Vince is known as a family man that loves his wife and kids. Now he moves on to working the grill and repping Kingsford Charcoal. I wish Big Vince the best. When I met him in 2002, he was a hell of a guy with a great sense of humor.