Julius Peppers has at least one more year of football in him. According to his agent, Carl Carey, the linebacker intends to return to the NFL for another season. The 37-year old was pondering retirement following the end of his contract with the Green Bay Packers, but it appears the football legend isn't ready to hang up his cleats quite yet.
One more year
Peppers has stated before that he would feel good about playing another season, but wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to. He had plenty of time to make his decision, but free agency begins this week, so his odds of getting a deal would go down as he spent more of the period pondering his future.
He has been working out in Miami, though, so he is in good shape if teams want to meet with him prior to signing him. Despite being one of the oldest players in the NFL, Peppers is still coming off of a relatively productive season. He forced two fumbles and recorded 7.5 sacks for the Packers in 2016. He played every game during his three-year tenure with Green Bay and rarely even appeared on the injury report. His successful three seasons in Green Bay could be bridge that creates one more.
Reunion in the works
Peppers has spent the past three years in Green Bay and there's certainly mutual interest for him to spend one more. Coach Mike McCarthy was keeping tabs on the linebacker's desire to play moving forward, even though he wasn't a member of the active roster anymore.
The Packers are undergoing a restructuring of their linebackers corps, which has been forced to deal with major injuries over the past few years. Additionally, the team is expected to watch Nick Perry walk after a breakout season.
Peppers is currently fifth on the all-time sacks rankings in the NFL. He has 143.5 career sacks.
The linebacker is best known for his time as a defensive end with the Carolina Panthers, though he also went on to play for the Chicago Bears. He has yet to win a Super Bowl title, though, and his best chances of doing so before his career ends may rest in Green Bay.
