Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Dravon Askew-Henry has retired from football, he announced on Tuesday.
Askew-Henry, 29, was a local product who got to live out his dream with the Steelers for a brief period. He played high school football at Aliquippa High School, which has produced talents such as Darrelle Revis, Ty Law, and Jon Baldwin.
He stayed just an hour away for college, playing at West Virginia before signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent. Over his five-year pro football career, Askew-Henry played for five different teams.
“I want to thank God because without him none of this would have been possible,” Askew-Henry wrote on Instagram. “Just a kid from Aliquippa, PA who had a dream since I can remember to make it to the NFL. Football has taken me places and connected me with people I am so grateful for. I will never forget every single person who played a pivotal role in my career as an athlete; from little twerps all the way to the big leagues.”
Askew-Henry joined the Steelers in the summer of 2019 and recorded seven tackles and a pass deflection during four preseason games. He would be released before the season started.
From there, Askew-Henry jumped leagues, playing for New York Guardians of the XFL, before inking a deal with the New York Giants. He again failed to make the roster, being cut before the start of the season.
Trying to find his way back into the NFL, Askew-Henry played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and later the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL. He never played in an NFL regular season game.