Exclusive: Former Steelers Wide Receiver Markus Wheaton Announces Retirement

First, what are the next steps for you and your football career?

Well, first off, I’m hanging up my cleats. I’m currently retired – I just haven’t officially announced it yet.

I have a few businesses – I’m working in real estate and all over the place really. That’s about it. I have three little kids and they’re a handful.

Why the decision to retire?

The last few years, it’s been tough. I was injured all over the place.  Small and big injuries. Just a bunch of different situations and at the same time I had three little kids. I started to think about hanging up my cleats when I went to Philly. I told my wife then that if it didn’t work out there I would retire. I had a great camp in Philly, but I got more injuries and they released me. I already had some businesses in place so decided then to let it go.

In Philly, it was a small ticket. I went there hungry. I had something to prove and wanted to go get it in Philly. My production was insane during camp – I had my best camp of my career in the league. But I got bit in the butt by injuries again. For whatever reason, I couldn’t stop getting injured. I tried so many different things, but I couldn’t help getting injuries.

I got through that. I got out and started those businesses and am doing well. I’m excited to put my time and energy to that and my kids. I got to spend Christmas with my kids for the firs time – we bought a tree together. There’s nothing like that.

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