Former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis deserves an island vacation. He was in the business of building an island for 11 years, so doesn't he deserve to hang out on one?
Wide receiver after wide receiver found themselves stranded with Revis in the 2010s. Whether he had a matchup with Randy Moss or a running back, Revis was a problem. He dominated AFC foes like the Pittsburgh Steelers with the Jets but eventually won the Super Bowl with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
His career was filled with interceptions and forced fumbles alike, from high school ball to the NFL regular season. The former Pro Bowler hung up the cleats for good in 2018 after 11 NFL seasons as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history, and maybe even as one of the best players ever, period.
"Revis Island" captivated NFL fans, but what happened to him?
Darrelle Revis NFL Career
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Darrelle Shavar Revis is a retired former American football player. He played cornerback in the NFL primarily for the New York Jets, but had stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.
Revis is one of the most decorated cornerbacks of all time. In his 11-year professional football career, the four-time All-Pro made seven Pro Bowls, won one Super Bowl and joined the Hall of Fame All-2010s team. He recorded 29 interceptions over that span. Revis is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2023, and many think he had a first-ballot career.
Revis played his college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. He had an immediate impact at the University of Pittsburgh and was named a First-Team All-American his freshman year.
Revis played three seasons at Pitt as a cornerback and special teams specialist. In his junior season, he scored a wild touchdown on a punt return in the "Backyard Brawl" rivalry against West Virginia. The return won ESPN College Football Play of the Year:
He just missed out on the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy his junior season but was compensated with a high draft pick. The New York Jets traded up with the Carolina Panthers to select Darrelle Revis 14th overall in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Revis played with the Jets until 2012 and carved out an island in the process. Under head coach Rex Ryan, Revis finished second in voting for the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Regardless, "Revis Island" became a feared spot where New York Giants receivers went to die.
"Darrelle Revis! All the way home!"#RevisDay | @Revis24 pic.twitter.com/LStz8aXwQq
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 14, 2020
Despite his stellar play, the Jets always struggled in the rankings. After tearing his ACL in the 2012 season, the Jets traded Revis to Tampa Bay. The Bucs released Revis in 2014, and he joined the New England Patriots as a free agent. They went undefeated in the playoffs and beat Richard Sherman and the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX the same season, giving Revis his only ring. He recorded one tackle in the game.
Revis spent two more seasons with the Jets before signing a two-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. The Chiefs released Revis in February 2018, and he announced his retirement from professional football five months later.
Where is Darrelle Revis Now?
These days, Darrelle Revis is living the good life.
Revis struck a deal with Nike in 2012 to make his signature training shoe, the Nike Zoom Revis. Over the course of his NFL career, Revis made more than $124 million in playing contracts and boasts an estimated net worth of $70 million.
The 36-year-old Revis spends a good deal of his time being a father. He has two children, Jayden Revis and Deyani Shavae Revis, that he devotes his time to. He is still involved with his hometown community, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, where his foundation — The Darrelle Revis Foundation — continues to support.
Before Revis retired, he was charged for aggravated assault, robbery, terroristic threats and conspiracy stemming after his involvement in a late-night street fight in Pittsburgh. All charges were later dropped after Revis turned himself in and his friend confessed to throwing two punches that knocked two men unconscious. Revis has no lingering legal consequences from the incident.
Revis' Twitter bio lists him as a father first, humanitarian second, entrepreneur third and Super Bowl-champion-winning and retired football player last. He's active on Twitter and Instagram, posting about the NBA, NFL, community events and his children.
After 11 seasons of protecting his island from Raiders, maybe it's appropriate that this once shutdown corner is shutting down for a well-deserved vacation.
