Connor

Barwin

Barwin will serve in a variety of roles, including scouting in the offseason. He has already attended East-West Shrine Bowl practices and will hit up the Senior Bowl next week. Barwin will focus on “player development” during the regular campaign. Still only 33, Barwin officially retired in October.

“Tomorrow I turn 33 and after a decade of playing the greatest sport there is, I’m excited to say I’m moving on to the next chapter of my life,” Barwin wrote in an Instagram post. The full statement can be viewed in the link below. Barwin carried himself professionally both on and off the field throughout his decade-long career, compiling 366 tackles, 56.5 sacks and six forced fumbles all the while helping the community and raising money frequently through his Make The World Better foundation in order to revitalize the city of Philadelphia. He turns 33 on October 15.

Roseman said he wants to evaluate some of the team’s young talent in training camp before “reconvening” in a couple weeks. Barwin is hoping to play as a 4-3 edge rusher this upcoming season. To prepare for this transition, the 32-year-old has bulked up to 270 pounds, well above the 255 he played at last year.

Barwin, who has yet to resurface since being let go by the Giants in January, has spent the summer training alongside former Eagles teammate Jason Kelce at Temple University. “The Eagles know that’s where I want to be,” said the 11-year vet. “Me and Howie [Roseman] are talking. I might wait a week into camp, but that’s about as far as I’m going to wait.” Barwin, who has stated that he plans to retire after 2020, compiled 12 tackles and one sack over 289 defensive snaps as a Giant last year.

It’s Barwin’s first known visit since he was released by the Giants way back in January. Now entering what would be his age-33 season, Barwin just doesn’t have a lot left to give on the field. He could still be a veteran presence in the locker room. Barwin had one sack in 15 games in 2018.

Signed to a “two-year” deal last July, Barwin recorded just one sack in 15 games and saw his defensive role dramatically shrink as the season progressed. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Barwin wants to keep playing, but he could struggle for interest on the open market. This move saves the Giants $1.5 million against the cap.

Both players finally made good on their early-round pedigrees last season, emerging as nucleus players in Houston. After losing Mario Williams to Buffalo, Barwin is entrenched as Wade Phillips’ top pass rusher.

Barwin and rookie Brooks Reed kept the pressure on opposing passers even with Mario Williams out for the season. “He’s been exceptional,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Barwin. ... Connor has got a brilliant future ahead of him ... he’s been a big, big leader on our football team and we’re all very proud of him.”

He finished with 10 tackles (seven solo). The monster day brings Barwin’s sack total on the season to 8.5, and after a relatively slow start Barwin now has 6.5 in his last three games. Rookie bookend Brooks Reed has six sacks on the season, and the Texans have hardly missed a beat without Mario Williams.

This has been in the works since the end of last season, when Barwin emerged as the team’s best pass rusher while Brown finally played as well as any blindside tackle in the game. Barwin’s 9.5 sacks in the second half of the season tied Jared Allen and Elvis Dumervil for the NFL lead.