Former Vikings DT Michael Pierce retiring after 9 seasons

Michael Pierce played two seasons with the Vikings sandwiched between two stints with the Baltimore Vikings.

On Wednesday morning while making an appearance on the Sports Spectrum podcast, former Vikings defensive tackle Michael Pierce announced that he’s retiring from the NFL after nine seasons.

During the 2021 season — Pierce’s only season he played in Minnesota — he recorded 20 tackles, a single-season high three sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Due to potential medical complications from COVID-19, Pierce opted out of the entire 2020 campaign, missing his first season as a member of the Vikings.

The former undrafted free agent out of Wofford in 2016 spent seven seasons altogether (2016-2019, 2022-204) with the Ravens sandwiched around his two seasons with the Vikings. As a member of the Ravens, Pierce had career totals of 218 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and one outstanding interception he recorded this past season.

While many wouldn’t consider Pierce to have been a “star” in the NFL, he was a fan favorite no matter where he played, made the locker room a better place, and will surely be missed by every single one of his teammates that had the chance to play with him these past nine seasons.