Former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats officially announces his retirement

While his name might not go down in history as one of the league best ever defensive players, the NFL lost one of their kindest personalities on Monday when former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats officially announced his retirement on social media.

After nine years in the league with the Buffalo Bills, Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, the popular linebacker has decided to move onto the next phase of his life away from the football field.

Selected by the Bills in the sixth-round of the 2010 draft, Moats would make his way to Pittsburgh via free agency in 2014, initially signing a one-year deal with the team. Re-signed to a three-year contract in 2015, Moats would primarily act as the backup to both outside linebacker positions and would record 11.5 of his career total of 16.5 sacks while with the Steelers, despite only starting 26 of the 64 games he played in Pittsburgh.

But as valuable as the veteran linebacker was to younger players like Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo and T.J. Watt when it came to teaching them how to be a professional, it would be fair to say that Moats had an even greater impact on the communities where he lived.

Named as his team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year while with both the Bills and the Steelers for his charitable work off the field, some fans might also be unaware that Moats donated 10-percent of his salary each year, as well as providing a considerable amount of his time to helping a variety of causes.

Noted for his work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Pittsburgh, Moats has also made significant donations to his alma mater James Madison University and a number of other charities in the cities he has called home at various points in his life.

The loss of Moats from the NFL also means the loss of his wife Shonda, a passionate and knowledgeable football fan and a great supporter of many charities in her own right. But with the couple opting to remain in Pittsburgh to raise their family, there should be little doubt that the Moats family will continue to have a significant impact on the local community.

Fans who follow Moats on social media might also already be aware that the linebacker has a promising career in media on his hands with his own podcast and more recently as a reporter for Steelers official website and Steelers Nation Radio. And with his infectious smile and positive personality, it would seem to be a job he is well suited for.