Apr 14, 2015 3 min read

On the heels of longtime star safety Troy Polamalu’s retirement last week, the other defensive back taken in the 2003 draft by the Steelers also decided to call it a career.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, a 12-year-veteran who played a key role in the Steelers’ three Super Bowl runs and two titles during his career, announced his retirement from the NFL Tuesday.

Taylor, whose contract with Pittsburgh ran out at the end of the 2014 season, previously said he would consider playing elsewhere in 2015, but the retirement of Polamalu and his desire to finish his career where it began was too great to overlook.

“Other than having my son, playing for the Steelers has been the best experience in my entire lifetime,” Taylor, who turns 35 next month. told Steelers.com. “It is rare, in this day of free agency. . . to play for one team. For me to have this opportunity says a lot about how they felt about me, what I gave back to the organization.

“I wasn’t cut, I wasn’t released. It was just my contract was up and it was time to retire.”

Taylor was a fourth-round pick in 2003, the same season the Steelers made a trade in the first round to move up and select Polamalu.

Starting with the 2004 season, the two became stalwarts in Pittsburgh’s secondary, helping the Steelers to Super Bowl wins in 2005 and 2008 and another appearance in 2010.

Taylor did not miss a game from 2005 through 2011, playing in 135 consecutive games, often covering the opposing team’s top receiver all over the field.

But after rebounding from his injury in 2012 to play in all 16 games in 2013, Taylor was asked to take a pay cut to stay with the Steelers last season. He suffered a gruesome arm fracture in a win at Carolina Sept. 21 and did not return until a Nov. 30 loss against New Orleans. The following week, Taylor also suffered a leg injury in a win over Cincinnati and pulled himself out of that game.

He was not active again for the remainder of the season.

Taylor, never known for having great hands, finishes his career with 636 tackles, three sacks, 14 interceptions and 140 pass defenses.

His retirement continues an offseason of change for the Steelers that began when longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau stepped down at the conclusion of the 2014 campaign. LeBeau, who was replaced by longtime linebackers coach Keith Butler, has since taken a position with the Tennessee Titans.

The Steelers also released veteran defensive end Brett Keisel and had Polamalu retire last week.

Just four players – quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, linebacker James Harrison, tight end Heath Miller and long snapper Greg Warren – who were memebers of all three of the team’s recent Super Bowl trips remain on the roster.

Taylor said Polamalu’s decision to retire weighed heavily in his decision.

“We came in together, we were going out together,” Taylor said. “That is how we rock.

“That is my loyalty to that man. I said once Troy does his. I will decide. That is what I owe to Troy.”