Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain breaks up a pass to Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn during an NFL game on December 13, 2015 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Although he is 34 years old and almost eight years removed from his last NFL game, he wants to return to football now that Rolando McClain is eligible to play again.
On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ended McClain’s indefinite suspension.
McClain has not played in an NFL game since January 3, 2016. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on December 2, 2016 for violating the league’s substance abuse program and policies.
McClain was serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s program and substance abuse policy at the start of the 2015 season and was in the process of missing the first ten games of the 2016 season due to a second suspension when he received the ban for an indefinite period.
AL.com reported that McClain received conditional reinstatement in August 2019, shortly before being fired by the Dallas Cowboys on September 2, 2019, and was back on the restricted list in December without returning to the NFL.
The end of his suspension makes McClain an NFL free agent.”Mr. Goodell has been a great supporter of mine from the beginning,” McClain told Fisher, “he has always been fair.”
McClain was a football and basketball star for Decatur High School before earning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award while playing for the undefeated Alabama team that became the national championship team BCS for 2009 season won.
McClain was the eighth player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, going to the Oakland Raiders.
McClain was a member of the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team, but played his last game with the Raiders on November 1. 25, 2012. McClain did not appear in another NFL regular season game for 642 days.
McClain returned from a year of retirement to help the Cowboys win the NFC East title in 2014 and earn their first playoff win since 2009 as Dallas’ middle linebacker.
In 2014, McClain finished second in voting for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award and was a finalist for the George Halas Award, given annually to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the greatest adversity to succeed.
In five NFL seasons, McClain played in 65 regular season games and two playoff games, making 63 starts.
He recorded 407 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and four interceptions in the regular season.“I’m still myself in every way,” McClain said. “…I’m ready for the NFL now. Like riding a bike.
