Running Back Rashard Mendenhall Retires from the NFL

Former NFL running back Rashard Mendenhall began telling NFL teams on Saturday that he will be retiring from the NFL after six NFL seasons at the age of 26.

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Mendenhall is best known for his time spent as a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, rushing for over 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns in five seasons from 2008-2012. Mendenhall was the Steelers' first-round draft pick in 2008 after leading the University of Illinois to the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Mendenhall spent his final season as an Arizona Cardinal, rushing for nearly 650 yards and eight touchdowns as more of a short yardage guy. Mendenhall was beginning to be used less at the end of the season as 2013 rookie Andre Ellington began to emerge as a talented ball carrier.

Mendenhall has battled injuries during his career, missing 12 games in 2008 due to a shoulder injury and 10 games in 2012 due to a torn ACL. Mendenhall rushed for at least 900 yards and 7 touchdowns in all three seasons in Pittsburgh that he did not miss double-digit games.

If anyone is wondering why running backs want a big payday early in their career. Mendenhall's story speaks to how short the shelf life for running backs is. In 2011 Mendenhall was a top-10 running back in the league, just two seasons later, he's retiring.