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Azumah to retire after seven NFL seasons


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LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Bears cornerback and kick returner Jerry Azumah announced his retirement Thursday during a press conference at Halas Hall.

 

Azumah played in 105 games with 49 starts in seven seasons after being selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 1999 draft.

 

A record-breaking running back at New Hampshire, Azumah was switched to cornerback when he arrived in Chicago. At his first minicamp with the Bears, the 5-10, 192-pounder joked that the only other time he had played defensive back was on PlayStation.

 

Azumah scored his first NFL touchdown in his first playoff game, returning a Donovan McNabb interception 39 yards to give the Bears a short-lived 14-13 lead in a 33-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 19, 2002 in the final game at the old Soldier Field.

 

Azumah started all 16 games for the first time in 2002, recording a career-high 92 tackles. In 2003, he tied for the team lead with four interceptions and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in kickoff returns with a 29-yard average and 2 touchdowns.

 

Azumah scored on returns of 89 yards against Detroit and 88 yards at Green Bay and his average was the highest by a Bears player since Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton led the NFL with a 31.7-yard average as a rookie in 1975.

 

After missing the first four weeks of the 2004 season following neck surgery, Azumah returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in a loss to the Redskins in his first game back.

 

In 2005, a hip injury that required surgery during training camp robbed Azumah of his explosiveness. He played in 15 games as a nickel back after losing his starting job to Nathan Vasher, who was voted to the Pro Bowl after leading the Bears with eight interceptions.

 

Azumah, 28, retires third on the Bears' all-time kickoff return list with 2,885 yards, trailing only Glyn Milburn (4,596) and Dennis Gentry (4,353).

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Who's gonna pump up the crowds at Soldier Field now? That was always one of things I looked forward to; him standing back before the kickoff, pointing to the crowd and getting fired up. I saw him at training camp the year before; great guy. I'm gonna miss Zoooom.

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Who's gonna pump up the crowds at Soldier Field now? That was always one of things I looked forward to; him standing back before the kickoff, pointing to the crowd and getting fired up. I saw him at training camp the year before; great guy. I'm gonna miss Zoooom.

 

1384719[/snapback]

 

 

 

 

 

:D  I really liked that guy.  Good luck to him and kudos for having the smarts to get out while still upright.

 

1385522[/snapback]

 

 

 

+1! :D

 

The man is very articulate and I hope he lands a job on TV. We're gonna miss you Zoooom!

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