Michael Roos, who provided the lion’s share of funding to install the renown red turf in the stadium that helped him attain All-Pro status in the NFL, announced his retirement Feb. 26.
“After 10 years as a Tennessee Titan I have decided to retire from football,” Roos wrote on Instagram. “I have given this decision much consideration.”
The former Eastern Washington University and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle saw his 2014 season end due to a knee injury last Oct. 5. The injury required surgery and was a factor in Roos’ decision to end his 10-year NFL career.
Roos earned All-Pro accolades in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and started in the Pro Bowl in 2009. In his last 13 seasons as a football player, Roos started every game he played — a total of 226.
Roos, born and raised for 10 years in the Baltic state on Estonia, was a standout athlete at Mountain View High School in Vancouver, Wash. Ironically, the 6-foot, 7-inch, 315-pound Roos was primarily a basketball player and only began playing football as a senior in high school.
Roos credited his coaches for their help in his career.
“I want to thank my coaches Mike Woodward (high school); Aaron Best, Paul Wulff, Beau Baldwin (EWU); Jeff Fisher, Mike Munchak, Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Matthews (Titans); and all the coaches who made me a better player and man.
Roos and wife Katherine donated $500,000 to EWU in 2010, a gift that jump-started the installation of artificial turf at the former Woodward Field. As a tribute to their giving legacy, Eastern re-named the stadium “Roos Field” Sept. 16, 2010.
“I’m excited to begin the rest of my life, and I am grateful to do so now, while I am fully healthy,” he said.
Roos has been a regular visitor to Eastern games in the past 10 years when the NFL schedule allowed. Eastern honored him by retiring his jersey in 2009.
“On behalf of Eastern, we send our congratulations to Michael for a tremendous collegiate and NFL career,” Eastern athletic director Bill Chaves said.
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