Rolando McClain Retires After Signing One-Year Contract Last Month

Linebacker Rolando McClain has retired after signing a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens last month, the team’s GM Ozzie Newsome announced on Wednesday. The 23-year-old signed for $700,000 that including extra incentives up to $400,000 on April 12th after three seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

Now McClain will retire due to issues off the field that have landed him a court date that’s set for July 9th. He was arrested in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama shortly after signing with the Ravens on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

This isn’t his first run-in with the law as he’s already pleaded guilty to a window tint charge this month and was also arrested in December of 2011 on assault charges.

During his 2011 arrest, he allegedly pointed a gun at another man and fired the weapon right next to his head. McClain was originally convicted and sentenced to 180 days in jail but the charges were dropped after an appeal after the victim failed to cooperate, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Rolando McClain retires well before his time as his personal life forced him out of the game. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, McClain looked to be a future star after signing a five-year, $40.25 million rookie contract with the Raiders.

The University of Alabama product made 246 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one interception in 41 games with Oakland throughout his three-year NFL career. His best season came in 2011 when finished with 77 tackles and five sacks in 15 games.

McClain was released by the Raiders on April 5th, 2013, cutting his rookie contract short. A week later he signed with the Ravens, and a month after that he retired for good. Next he’ll go to court and hopefully work out his off the field issues.

At the young age of 23, a return the NFL could be possible, though he’ll have to get past his legal troubles first.

Do you believe Rolando McClain retired at the right time in his career?

[Image via Jeffrey Beall]