Clinton Portis is hanging up his cleats. And his costumes.
The Redskins No. 2 all-time rusher will hold a press conference at Redskins Park on Thursday to announce that he is retiring from football.
Portis, who was released by the Redskins in spring of 2011, will call it quits 648 yards short of catching John Riggins for the team’s all-time rushing lead and just 77 yards shy of gaining 10,000 career rushing yards.
He came to the Redskins from the Broncos in 2004 in a controversial trade that sent perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick to Denver.
Portis led the Redskins in rushing every season from 2004-2008 except for 2006, when he missed half the season with injuries. In 2005 he set the team single-season record by rushing for 1,516 yards.
During that season he drew national attention by dressing up in costume as various made-up characters during his weekly media availability. “Sherriff Gonna Getcha”, “Southeast Jerome”, and “Coach Janky Spanky” became overnight sensations.
Portis had fun but he played hard. He earned a reputation as one of the best in the business when it came to picking up blitzes as he was a fearless blocker no matter who was charging at him.
A concussion he suffered in the ninth game of the 2009 season was the beginning of the end for Portis in Washington. He did not play the last half of that season and he missed all but five games of the following season with a groin injury.
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