Report: Aaron Garcia To Retire

Adam Markowitz
Friday February 28, 2014

Perhaps the time has finally come. According to a report in the Florida Times Union, Aaron Garcia has decided at 43 years old to retire.

Whether Garcia has truly hung it up for the final time or not is still clearly up for debate, as it wouldn't be stunning to see him come across the wire as a quarterback for another team in the near future. However, it is clear that the Jacksonville Sharks, who are only a few weeks removed from trading Bernard Morris, Matt Marcorelle, and Trevis Turner to the Orlando Predators for Garcia's rights, are ready to move on with Kyle Rowley and RJ Archer as their two quarterbacks for the 2014 season.

Garcia will retire as the most accomplished quarterback statistically in the AFL. He threw for over 60,000 yards and over 1,300 touchdowns, both of which are records which, in all likelihood, will never be touched. He also finally won an elusive ArenaBowl in 2011 with the Sharks, throwing the championship-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the game.

Many, including this writer, figured that that would be the end for Garcia. However, AG came back to play for the San Antonio Talons in 2012, and he had his best statistical season ever, throwing for 4,985 yards and 118 TDs, both of which were career-highs. In 2013, Garcia signed with the San Jose SaberCats, but he was traded during the season after a shaky start to the year to the Predators, where he guided the team from the depths of the Southern Division to the postseason.

The Sharks and the Predators open up the season against each other on March 16th in the first ever AFL game to be played at CFE Arena on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Update 3/2: Don Coble of the Florida Times Union has updated his story, stating that Garcia is unsure whether he is going to report or retire.