NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

By Kurt Badenhausen

Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan is announcing his retirement today after a nine-year NFL career. Morgan, the 2009 ACC defensive player of the year while at Georgia Tech before entering the 2010 NFL Draft and being selected 16th overall by the Titans, racked up 44.5 sacks during his pro career and was a free agent this spring after completing a four-year, $27 million contract.

“I’m at a time where, physically and mentally, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to continue,” Morgan told Forbes last week. “I feel at peace with the decision. I feel free in a sense to be able to wake up and put my mind and my energy towards things that are more purposeful to me at this time in my life.”

Morgan, who turned 30 in January, is already putting his mind and energy toward his next act as a real estate investor. He recently set up an Opportunity Zone fund to invest in marginalized communities. Opportunity Zone funds are sweeping the country, with celebrities like NBA forward Luol Deng and recently killed rapper Nipsey Hussle early investors.

Photo courtesy of Tanner Boriack.