INDIANAPOLIS — It didn't take long for Jerraud Powers to make an impact on his teammates early into his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Just a few months after being selected by the team in the third round of the NFL Draft, Powers, then 22, was immediately thrusted into a starting role in the Indy secondary, and by Week 3, he had already earned a nickname.
"A lot of the guys call me 'Old Man,'" Powers told The Indianapolis Star's Phil Richards. "They call me an old rookie."
Powers was one of several rookies counted on to make immediate impacts for that 2009 Colts team, which would eventually make it all the way to Super Bowl XLIV, where Indy would fall to the New Orleans Saints.
Other notable rookies that year included fellow cornerback Jacob Lacey, wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie, running back Donald Brown and punter Pat McAfee.
"They have to be ready to play and ready to play quickly and play well," then-Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said. "I think year-in and year-out, we've been pretty young. We've played a lot of young players over the years."
When healthy, Powers would prove to be a solid defender in his four seasons with the Colts before moving on to play three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and one season with the Baltimore Ravens.
This week, Powers announced on his Instagram account that he was retiring from the NFL after an eight-year career.
"With the 2017 season getting started and teams are preparing to be the best they can be, I think it's time for me to walk away from the game," Powers wrote to accompany a photo of him being introduced prior to a game with the Colts. "The last 8 years have been a joy and wonderful ride. Even though I can still compete and play at a high level, mentally, I'm ready for the next chapter of my life."
Powers started all 42 games at cornerback in which he played for the Colts from 2009 through 2012, though aforementioned injury issues limited him to no more than 12 games in a year (2009 and 2011). He logged 163 total tackles in Indianapolis with six interceptions — one he returned for a touchdown — 33 passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
He also played in two playoff contests with the Colts, intercepting a fourth quarter Joe Flacco pass his rookie season in the team's Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens to help seal a 20-3 victory to advance to the AFC Championship game.
In all, Powers, an Auburn product, played in 100 games with 88 starts, collecting 342 tackles, 13 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 75 passes defensed, three forced fumbles (one returned for a touchdown), four fumble recoveries and three sacks.
"Thanks to the Colts for taking a chance on me out of Auburn and being a great organization to be (a part) of," Powers wrote. "Thanks to the Cardinals for bringing me in for 3 years to help turn a organization back to its winning ways. Thanks to the Ravens for accepting me and letting me be apart of a great football culture and great organization. Thanks to the fans, you guys make the game GREAT. Thanks to my family for being supportive and loving me through it all."
Most of all, Powers said he'll "miss the locker room talk and conversations, the relationships with the trainers, managers and equipment staff."
"Will miss the going to battle with the guys on Sunday and feeling the joy or sadness of a victory or a loss," he continued. "The game of football changed my life forever and happy to forever be (a part) of the greatest fraternity in the world. Football has been a part of my life since the age of 6 and it's been great."
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