John Grant Jr., the most prolific scorer in Major League Lacrosse history, is retiring from MLL after 13 seasons.
Grant, 42, is the league’s all-time leader in goals (329), points (534) and game-winning goals (16). He lives in Denver, and will rejoin the Outlaws, who traded him to the Ohio Machine midway through the 2016 season, as offensive coordinator.
“Clearly this is something that’s been on my mind, but when your body tells you it’s time to call it quits, you listen,” Grant said in a press release issued by the league Wednesday. “My dream was to play at the highest level I could, for as long as I could and to be honest, I have long surpassed that and I’m extremely lucky to play as long as I did.”
A two-time MLL MVP with the Rochester Rattlers, Grant played on five MLL championship teams, hoisting the Steinfeld Trophy with the Rattlers in 2008, the Toronto Nationals in 2009, the Chesapeake Bayhawks in 2012 and 2013 and the Outlaws in 2014.
Grant also has played 17 seasons each in the National Lacrosse League and Canada’s Major Series Lacrosse/Western Lacrosse Association. Tack on five seasons of Ontario Junior A lacrosse, two seasons of junior college lacrosse at SUNY Morrisville and two prolific NCAA seasons at Delaware — not to mention playing in eight world outdoor and indoor championships for Team Canada — and you have the resume of arguably the most decorated athlete in lacrosse history. He is a two-time NLL MVP, a two-time Mann Cup MVP and a two-time All-World Team member. He also fought through a life-threatening infection in his surgically repaired knee in 2008, avoiding amputation.
Although Wednesday’s announcement mentioned nothing of his pro indoor or international lacrosse future, Grant sure sounded like his playing days in any capacity are over. He is a full-time coach at Valor Christian (Colo.) High School.
“For over 27 years I got to play this game," said Grant, who appeared in two games this season with the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth and currently is listed on the inactive roster. "I have so many great memories that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and I’ve met such incredible people along the way. “
Grant fell short in his pursuit of a sixth MLL title when the Machine lost to the Outlaws in a weather-delayed thriller last August in Atlanta. In Ohio’s regular season finale, however, he set a league single-game record by scoring 10 goals in the Machine’s 22-13 victory over the New York Lizards.
“I have a very special thank you to Columbus, my Machine teammates and coaching staff, who picked me up, gave me the opportunity to play for another title and made me a part of the Sheen family,” Grant said.