Middle linebacker Rolando McClain is retiring from the NFL at the age of 23, less than a month after signing a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, general manager Ozzie Newsome announced Wednesday.
McClain was signed on April 12 as the potential replacement for Ray Lewis but was arrested 10 days later in his hometown of Decatur, Ala., for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. This was the third arrest in 11 months for the former first-round pick by the Oakland Raiders.
He was previously charged in a 2011 shooting, and police arrested him in January on charges of having his car windows tinted too darkly and trying to lie about his identity. McClain was sentenced to jail on an assault charge after the shooting, but prosecutors later dismissed the case.
A city judge dismissed the January charge against McClain of trying to lie about his identity. He pleaded guilty to the window tint violation and paid a $182 fine. He is scheduled for July 9 court date for his latest arrest. The Ravens had been noncommittal about McClain's future with the team.
"Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL," Newsome said. "We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list."
McClain's spot on the team seemed to be in jeopardy after the Ravens moved up in the second round to draft Arthur Brown.
The eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft, McClain finishes his NFL career with 274 tackles (195 solo), 6.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and 23 passes defended in 41 career games with Oakland.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
