Justin Verlander seemingly didn’t have to think too hard about whether it was time to retire after 21 MLB seasons. 

The future Hall of Fame right-hander was injured in his first start back with the Tigers on March 30 and was placed on the injured list with left hip inflammation.

It proved to be the only start the 43-year-old made this season before the final one of his career on Sept. 26, after he suffered a left hamstring strain during a bullpen session in June.

Justin Verlander talks about his decision to retire. FOX Sports/X

It was then that Verlander knew his career was over before fighting his way back for his swan song.       

“It was pretty easy,” the three-time Cy Young winner told the MLB on Fox crew before the Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS. “I make the first start of the season and my leg starts hurting. I said, my entire career, man, I love this game. I love giving everything I got. I’m gonna play until the wheels fall off. The wheel falls off in the first game.

“Then a couple [of] months later, the wheel’s still falling off.”

One last thing sealed it, as Verlander got to spend more time with wife Kate Upton, 7-year-old daughter Genevieve and young son Bellamy.   

“My daughter comes up. My family comes up. I mean, this is pretty sweet here, hanging out with them,” he said. “It just made it pretty clear. The arm held up great. It always has. But the leg man gave out on me.”

The former MVP and two-time World Series champion admitted before his final start that he was “skipping a lot of steps, risking some serious injury potentially” to get back on the mound.

It proved to be all worth it as he got emotional during an on-field ceremony and caught his daughter’s first ceremonial pitch. A day later, he turned in a performance to be proud of.

Genevieve Verlander hugs her dad, Detroit starting pitcher Justin Verlander, during the sixth inning of the Tigers’ win over the Pirates on Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. AP Photo/Jose Juarez

Verlander allowed two runs on five hits and walks with six strikeouts over 5 ⅓ innings against the Pirates.

His daughter joined Tigers manager A.J. Hinch to take him out of the game.

Verlander finished his career with a 266-159 record, 3,560 strikeouts (eighth all time) and a 3.33 ERA to go along with a pitching Triple Crown in 2011.