Steeler and Former Volunteer Foster Retires from NFL

Native Tennessean, decorated Vol, and longtime anchor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ramon Foster has retired from the NFL today after an 11 year playing career. Foster enjoyed a career that has become a rarity in modern professional sports, playing his entire career for a single franchise. Foster was decorated in his time at Tennessee and with Pittsburgh. Serving as one of the players that defined the tough, physical nature of both of those teams.

Foster was recruited to Tennessee out of Ripley High School in Ripley, Tennessee. Foster arrived at Tennessee in 2004 to play for Volunteer head coach Phillip Fulmer. Under Fulmer, the Vols were noted for the size, strength, and caliber of their offensive line, and Foster immediately arrived to fill that mold. Foster earned Freshman All SEC honors during the 2005 campaign, a bright spot in the first season with a losing record for the Vols in over a decade. In 2006, Foster and the Vols returned to form ending the season in the Top 25 with a 9-4 record. Much of this turnaround was contributed to the return of David Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator. Foster was one of the players that provided the time for Erik Ainge to throw the deep routes that Cutcliffe called in his pro-style offense, all while bringing a nasty, phsycial disposition to the running game that the former offensive lineman and offensive line coach Fulmer was noted for. Foster was one of the anchors for the last Tennessee team to win the SEC East and play for an SEC Title in Atlanta. The starting right tackle for his Junior campaign in 2007, Foster was responsible for protecting Ainge and creating holes for running back Arian Foster. Foster and the Vols came up short against LSU in 2007, but ended the season with a 10-4 record and an Outback Bowl win over Wisconsin, and All SEC honors for the big right tackle. Foster was also part of the last 10-win season for Tennessee. Foster's senior campaign didn't end the way he wanted, but he was a part of some unique Volunteer history. 2008 was the final season in Knoxville for Phillip Fulmer as head coach of Tennessee. The Vols ended the season 5-6 and Fulmer was fired in-season before a loss to Wyoming. Foster and the Vols won their Senior Day game, and carried Fulmer off the field on their shoulders. Foster was in the final group of Vols to play his entire career for Fulmer.

Foster went undrafted in 2009, but was a priority undrafted free agent that was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Foster was brought in for depth on the Pittsburgh line, but soon found himself competing for the starting job at guard. Foster started four games as a rookie in 2009, but found himself again as a backup to open the 2010 campaign. That season, Foster again earned a starting job, serving as a starter for the Steelers through the NFL playoffs, and for the Steelers' loss in Super Bowl XLV. Despite both his personal success, and the success of the Steelers, Foster was a backup again to begin the 2011 season. However, by Week 4 Foster had regained a starting job with the Steelers, a role that he would not relinquish for the remainder of his career. To conclude his career, Foster started 46 consecutive games for the Steelers, an impressive feat given the punishing nature of life for an NFL offensive lineman. Foster arrived in Pittsburgh undrafted, and spent the next 11 years contributing to the Steelers' success, physical reputation, and their toughness on offense. Foster has been a blocker for multiple thousand yard rushers in Pittsburgh such as, Rashard Mendenhall and Le'Veon Bell.

Foster spent his entire career with Pittsburgh, and became one of the players that exemplified what it meant to be and to play against a Steeler. He was tough, strong, and physical, traits he showed and developed at Tennessee in another program proud of it’s culture of offensive linemen. Undrafted and unheralded at multiple portions of his football journey, Foster became one of the most consistent, identifiable players for a franchise so associated with a physical running game in the modern NFL. Foster will leave a hole in the Pittsburgh line as well as their locker room that will be difficult to fill. Foster said in his retirement speech that he just knew it was time. As his time as a football player comes to a close, Foster can look back with pride at the way he wore and represented the Black and Gold, as well as the Orange and White.

Image Courtesy of: https://steelersdepot.com/2017/02/blast-past-ramon-foster-graded-prior-2009-nfl-draft/