On January 13, 2004, the game of football was forever changed by the release of NFL Street. Okay, not really, but this game was the first football-related content exposed to my 10-year old self and I took it as gospel.

As I mentioned, the game was released back in 2004 with, at the time, over 300 current NFL players, an extra squad hosting Hall of Famers like Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice and two extra teams created after the artists who formed the soundtrack: D.J. KaySlay and The X-ecutioners.

The game was filled with incredibly silly mechanics, a hype-inducing soundtrack and an enjoyable arcade form of 7-on-7 football. There were jukes, spins, stiff-arms, laterals, super tackles and Gamebreakers. It was all about stylin’ while scoring.

Think I’m joking? Watch this gameplay, which one-ups Patrick Mahomes’ no-look pass with a play-action, no-look, behind-the-back wrist flick for six.

But as the years have passed by, many players have retired and the rosters deteriorated down to a select few.

NFL Street Baltimore Ravens Roster

QB Kyle Boller QB

Peter Boulware LB

Todd Heap WR (Tight End was not a position in the game)

Jamal Lewis RB

Ray Lewis LB

Chris McAllister DB

Edwin Mulitalo OL

Jonathan Ogden OL

Chris Redman QB

Ed Reed DB

Terrell Suggs LB

Travis Taylor WR

Anthony Weaver DL

(Unsurprisingly, this was a heavily defensive team)

The original roster of players has slowly dwindled until only three players remained:

Suggs became the last defensive player on the roster as Julius Peppers announced his retirement earlier this offseason.

Related Julius Peppers has announced his retirement in the Players Tribune

Not only did Sizzle outlast all defensive players in the game, he outlasted the developers, EA Big, though that wasn’t as much of a challenge. This particular branch of Electronic Arts was introduced in 2000 with the video game, SSX, and discontinued after 2008 with their final release, FIFA Street 3.

I doubt this faux-achievement has ever crossed the mind of the superstar linebacker, but much like the game itself, something equal parts silly and unique felt worth entertaining.