This Day in Football History

2009 - Tedy Bruschi announces retirement

Two-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi announces his retirement from professional football.

The 36-year-old New England Patriots linebacker was a key piece in the greatest era of success in the team's history. The undersized and unrelenting Bruschi exemplified the Patriots' ethos. Upon Bruschi's retirement, head coach Bill Belichick described him as "a perfect player."

Perhaps the most remarkable moment of Bruschi's career came off the field. In February 2005, just days after playing in the Pro Bowl, he suffered a stroke. Bruschi was forced to sit out the 2005 season as he recovered, but he returned to the team to start the final 14 games of the 2006 season. 

2004 - Ravens sign Deion Sanders

Superstar cornerback Deion Sanders signs an incentive-laden one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

The seven-time Pro Bowler last played in the NFL four years prior, but the prospect of joining a stacked Ravens defense lured him back to the sport that made him a household name at age 37. 

Sanders spent two years with the Ravens, mostly coming onto the field as a sub-package player. He made five interceptions and scored one touchdown.

2013 - Patriots cut Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is released by the New England Patriots after the polarizing quarterback fails to make a positive impression at training camp or in the preseason. 

The Patriots took a flyer on Tebow after he was released by the New York Jets in April 2013, but they hedged their bets by giving him a contract without guaranteed money. 

Tebow hasn't received interest from an NFL team since his release from the Patriots.

Birthdays

1952 - Garry Johnson
1982 - Jordan Babineaux
1983 - Larry Fitzgerald
1983 - Lance Moore