Former Wisconsin Badgers star, Buccaneers defender announces retirement

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•02/22/22

Former star linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jack Cichy is calling it a career. The former Badger has had a difficult time carving out a career in the NFL since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Cichy has suffered an astounding five consecutive season-ending injuries, which significantly limited his ability to be on the field.

Cichy announced his decision to retire in a heartfelt statement from his personal Twitter account.

“The time to say that my playing career has come to an end has finally come. I gave this game everything I had and I can walk away satisfied with that fact. There will always be what ifs, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The injuries, surgeries and adversity I faced and conquered have made me who I am today. Would not recommend five consecutive season-enders, however,” wrote Cichy.

His NFL career comes to an end after being limited to seven defensive snaps, 274 special team snaps, and racking up six tackles over his four seasons in the NFL.

Badgers announce addition of assistant coach

Wisconsin football officially announced the addition of inside linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to the staff on social media Tuesday. The 63-year old assistant coach spent the past two seasons as the defensive line coach at Air Force.

The addition of Bill Sheridan continues a busy offseason of coaching staff additions for Wisconsin, which looks to build the best unit possible ahead of the 2022 season under head coach Paul Chryst.

After starting his coaching career at the high school level in 1981, Sheridan joined the college ranks at Michigan as a graduate assistant in 1985. He bounced around the Midwest for many years at Cincinnati, Michigan State, Notre Dame and a return to Michigan in a number of different defensive roles.

The Detroit, Michigan native then made the jump to the NFL, where he worked with the New York Giants and won a Super Bowl title. In his five seasons with the team from 2005-09, he worked his way up from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator. However, after one season he returned to a position coach role with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive coordinator again.

After one more NFL stop with the Detroit Lions, he worked two years at Boston College. He again got one season as defensive coordinator before moving to Air Force as a position assistant.