Celebrating like the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and sacking like only one other Washington Redskins player before him, Ryan Kerrigan has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
While Kerrigan will turn 31 in August, his daughter Lincoln was welcomed into the world in March and becoming a dad has inspired Kerrigan to elongate his career.
"I want my daughter and hopefully more future children to be able to remember some aspect of my football career," Kerrigan told the Rundown podcast via the team website. "I don't want them hearing me talk about football and then like, 'Oh, dad's living in the past, like he probably wasn't even very good.'
"I want them to be able to experience a lot of the fun that comes with being a professional football player and remember the experiences that they have."
No signs of a slowed step have hindered Kerrigan yet, as he's racked up double-digit sacks in three consecutive seasons -- and four of the last five -- with three straight Pro Bowl selections. A four-time Pro Bowler, Kerrigan's 84.5 sacks are second on Washington's all-time list behind Dexter Manley's 91.0.
As a rookie in 2011 after Washington drafted him in the first round, Kerrigan posted 7.5 sacks. That's stood as his career low, so if his numbers are maintained, he'll eclipse Manley this season.
"I'll never take any sack for granted because they're all hard to get," Kerrigan said. "But yeah, we'll cross that bridge when it comes."
Since 2014, Kerrigan's sacks have been followed by a bit of flash and flex. Both biceps flexed, one knee bent, the opposite leg outstretched, it's a pose associated with Michaels, a longtime World Wrestling Entertainment star and Hall of Famer. It's a celebration that's been called upon quite a lot as Kerrigan has notched 13 sacks in each of his past two seasons.
"It just caught on like wildfire," Kerrigan said. "I was a Shawn Michaels fan before and it was crazy how quickly it became a thing."
If Kerrigan's plans fall in line, celebrating like HBK will be a thing for many more sacks to come.
