Ravens WR Steve Smith retiring after 2015 season: 'I feel like it's time'

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith said he's walking away from football after 2015.

By Will Brinson

Aug 10, 2015 at 9:37 am ET • 1 min read

Start the engines on the Steve Smith Retirement Tour. The Ravens wide receiver announced on Monday 2015 will be his final season in the NFL.

Smith told reporters (via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun) he's walking away after

"I feel like it's time," Smith said. "If it's the end, I feel like it's the best place for it to end."

Smith has apparently known since April he would be walking away after this season and said he's all in on 2015.

"All my chips are on the table," Smith said.

The idea of 89 walking away from the game is sad. But the idea of 89 going ALL IN on 2015 is pretty fun. The Ravens are a Super Bowl sleeper, Smith wants a ring and a motivated Smith is the best thing in football.

He can make a serious move in terms of his Hall of Fame resume as well. Smith is 14th all time in receiving yards but a 1,000 yard season could vault him as high as 7th. (He needs 1,672 yards to catch Tim Brown for sixth, which feels unlikely.) A 100-catch season (also probably unlikely) could push Smith from 18th in all-time receptions up to the top 10.

Smith was probably the best Panthers player to ever put on a Carolina uniform. He carved a unique, shorter legacy with the Ravens last year by exploding out of the gate. Clearly he trailed off down the stretch.

But knowing he can expend all that energy on the field next year with nothing to play for after? It's possible Smith could put together a memorable, walk-off year to close out an impressive career.