Former Steelers OT Max Starks Hangs’em Up For Good
Protecting the Steelers franchise quarterback is no easy task. During the time that Ben Roethlisberger has been a part of this team, that job primarily belonged to Max Starks.
On Thursday morning, after a few years of uncertainty and no team to call ‘home’ during the 2014 season, the 33 year old finally hung up the cleats for good:
It's official! I've retired from the @NFL & my #sportsbroadcasting career begins on the largest stage #SuperBowlXLIX #RadioRow
— Max Starks IV (@maxstarks78) January 29, 2015
Starks became a part of the Steelers in 2004 and became a full time starter the following year – the year of Super Bowl XL. Starks and Roethlisberger quickly became good friends. How could you not? Starks was/is a great guy. That friendship seemed to grow when Starks made the shift from right tackle to left.
I’m sure Big Ben has a special place in his heart for the big guy simply because it was Starks’ job to keep the star QB’s keester from being on the turf from that blind side.
It was Roethlisberger who wore a #78 jersey to training camp as a sign of solidarity. Not once but twice – once in 2011 and again in 2012 following Starks’ release. The Steelers released Starks in an effort to free cap space as well as try and find a more serviceable left tackle for the long term.
In both 2011 and 2012, the Steelers would eventually re-sign the aging left tackle. Interestingly enough, both of those seasons were Starks’ best when it came to holding the left edge in pass protection.
The Steelers did not retain Starks after 2012, and his career became one big uncertainty. The Steelers went in a ‘different direction’ when they turned to the free agency market and signed Levi Brown – who quickly made it to the IR before taking a single snap.
Many in Pittsburgh pined and lobbied for Starks’ return when rookie tackle Mike Adams struggled to hold back a paper bag rolling on the field from getting to the Steelers quarterback. The Steelers continued to work from within, and Starks was left to sign with the St. Louis Rams where he only played in two games (only after being cut by the San Diego Chargers first).
Starks signed with the Arizona Cardinals in August of 2014 but failed to displace starting right tackle Bobbie Massie. Retirement seemed pretty inevitable at that point. It was only a matter time.
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Throughout it all, Starks has been a staunch supporter of his former team and brotherhood known as the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ve followed him on Twitter since he signed up back in 2011. He has always been a vocal supporter of his former teammates on that social network. You could see him making commentary during a Steelers game or if something happened in the news Steeler related.
Starks won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and has jokingly been referred to as ‘the bad penny’ (at least in my household) who always seemed to turn up just when you thought you were rid of him.
Best of luck to Max Starks as he begins his next venture in sports broadcasting.