Huge news is coming out of Tampa Bay on Sunday. Bucs starting left guard Ali Marpet announced on Instagram that he will retire. Marpet posted the shocking farewell after seven outstanding years in Tampa Bay.

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The retirement comes as a surprise considering Marpet is only 28 years. On top of that, the left guard was still playing at a very high level, earning his first Pro Bowl nomination this past season.

Marpet has been an anchor on the offensive line since joining the league. The Bucs selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Hobart college, prior to playing in Hastings, New York. He played the majority of his career at left guard where, despite the Bucs’ lack of success, Marpet was a premier offensive linemen in this league. Thankfully, he garnered once the Bucs starting winning and making the playoffs.

Marpet started 101 games in his seven-year career with the Bucs, making one Pro Bowl in that time. He was the ultimate example of a top player that put the team before himself. Marpet’s crowning achievement came in the 2020 season when the Bucs won Super Bowl LV. Over his seven seasons, the D-III star earned $37 million.

With that said, Marpet went down swinging in the playoffs this year when the Bucs lost to the Rams. He played one of his best games in slowing down Aaron Donald, the best defensive tackle of all time.

The Bucs already had questions to address with their offensive line before Marpet’s retirement. Now those questions extend even further. Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa are both set to be free agents in a couple weeks. There’s a chance that Tampa Bay could be looking at three new starters on the line next season. But losing Marpet definitely increases the chances that Jensen and/or Cappa could be re-signed.