After being reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday, former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain is planning a return to the pros according to an interview with Cowboys Country.
"I never planned to not return to football," McClain told Cowboys Country.
It has been almost a decade since McClain played in an NFL game. His last appearance was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. He is now an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team at 34 years old.
McClain was drafted No. 8 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Raiders before being waived for off-field issues.
The linebacker initially announced his retirement in 2013, but signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. McClain had a successful stint in Dallas over two seasons before his third year was once again derailed by off-season issues, this time drug-related.
He was suspended indefinitely in December 2016 after failing multiple drug tests with the Cowboys. He was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in August 2019, but immediately released by the Cowboys. He was then again suspended indefinitely in December 2019.
Over his NFL career with the Raiders and Cowboys, McClain had 412 tackles, 9.5 sacks and four interceptions.
McClain spent three seasons at Alabama from 2007-2009, winning a slew of individual awards in his final season with the Crimson Tide. Along with leading Alabama to a national title, McClain was a unanimous All-American, won the Butkus Award and SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
According to the report, Alabama head coach Nick Saban and chief operating officer Ellis Ponder have been supporting McClain throughout the reinstatement process.
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