Marco Capozzoli announces retirement

Tuesday May 17, 2016

 Kicker says farewell after four seasons in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Sharks announced Tuesday that kicker Marco Capozzoli has chosen to retire from the Arena Football League.

“I have decided the time has come to hang up the spikes one final time, and continue onto the next journey in my life.” Capozzoli said. “It was truly an honor to have been asked to come back to Jacksonville and lace 'em up one more time in the city where it all began.”

“Not only was Marco a great player, but he is an even better man,” Sharks Operating Manager Jeff Bouchy said. “He has made some of the biggest plays in our team’s history, and more importantly has always been an outstanding ambassador for both the Sharks and the Arena Football League as a whole. We wish Marco the absolute best as he continues his journey beyond football.”

2016 was Capozzoli’s fourth season in Jacksonville, as he previously served as the Sharks’ placekicker from 2011 through 2013. Capozzoli is the franchise’s all-time leader in both field goals (24) and extra points (121), and holds the single-season team records in each category as well. Capozzoli had a knack for making clutch kicks in the postseason, with two in particular standing out among the most memorable plays in franchise history.

In 2011, the Sharks took on the Georgia Force in the American Conference Championship. With his team ahead by just six points, Capozzoli hit a 36-yard field goal to give his team a two-score lead. The Sharks’ defense followed Capozzoli’s kick with a key stop, as an interception helped Jacksonville defeat Georgia by a 64-55 count and advance to ArenaBowl XXIV.

The following season, Capozzoli connected on an even longer field goal in an even more clutch situation. Jacksonville trailed by Georgia a point, 56-55, and had the ball on its own 14-yard line with just six seconds left. Capozzoli stepped onto the turf and drilled a 51-yarder as time expired to lift the Sharks to a 58-56 victory and propel the team into the conference championship game.

Prior to his time with the Sharks, Capozzoli first broke into the AFL with the Tulsa Talons in 2011. Over the course of his AFL career, Capozzoli made 27 of his 41 field goal attempts (65.9%) and connected on 403 of 496 (81.3%) point-after tries.

About the Jacksonville Sharks

The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and four-time South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2016 season are now available, two tickets as low as $99. To reserve your season tickets or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.