Drew Brees has been retired for years, but one of his former teammates remained active in the league—until now. His last job was protecting Tua Tagovailoa, serving as a key part of Miami’s offensive line over the past three seasons.
Staying in the NFL for over a decade is no easy task. Brees played as long as he could, won a Super Bowl, and walked away a couple of years later. His former teammate, however, never earned a ring of his own and has now stepped away from football after 12 seasons without a Super Bowl title on his résumé.
That player is Terron Armstead, who just announced his retirement from the NFL. He spent his final seasons protecting Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, where he gave everything he had. At 33 years old, Armstead remained in strong physical shape, playing one of the league’s most demanding positions at left tackle.
Armstead played for just two teams during his career—beginning with the New Orleans Saints, where he spent nine seasons from 2013 to 2021, and then finishing with the Dolphins from 2022 to 2024. He was a cornerstone of Miami’s offensive line and started 15 games last season, marking just the second time in his career he had that many starts.
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 13: Tackle Terron Armstead #72 of the New Orleans Saints talks with quarterback Drew Brees #9 during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The powerful legacy of a former Brees teammate
During his time with Drew Brees, Armstead was one of the most reliable players on the field. His standout season came in 2019, logging 935 snaps—his career high. In 2015, he posted his best snap percentage, playing 98% of the offensive snaps that year.
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Over the course of his career, Armstead totaled 7,734 offensive snaps. He earned Pro Bowl honors five times—three with the Saints and twice with the Dolphins. Despite the physical toll of the position, he still played in at least 10 games each year during his final three seasons.
