Five-time All-Pro long-stick midfielder Michael Ehrhardt has announced his retirement from professional lacrosse after ten seasons.

Ehrhardt published this statement to his social media.

Today, after 23 years, I am announcing my retirement from Lacrosse. It has been an unforgettable journey from Mineola PAL, to the Chaminade Flyers, to Maryland Lacrosse, to the Charlotte Hounds, to the USA National Team and finally to the Whipsnakes. I am forever grateful for the experiences and relationships I have developed throughout my time playing this sport. From the moment my cousin’s Bobby and Kevin introduced me to this incredible sport, it changed my life forever.

I have been fortunate to have incredible coaches and mentors throughout my career. Coach Moran and the Chaminade coaching staff, thank you for taking a chance on me and pushing me to try a new position that made my career. Coach Tillman and the Maryland coaching staff, thank you for helping me get to the next level and giving me the memories and skills I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. Coach Danowski and the USA National team, thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent our country, granting me the greatest honor of my career. Coach Stags, from our Charlotte Hounds days and to the Whipsnakes, I will forever cherish our relationship on and off the field. Coach Warne, Amplo and Resch, it has been a privilege learning from you; thank you for always bringing out the best in me.

To my trainers and medical staff, thank you for always having my best interest, taking care of me, and always keeping me in one piece. From the training room, gyms and to the field, you all have played an instrumental part in the longevity of my career.

To the fans, thank you for supporting me and cheering me on throughout my career. It has meant the world to me.

To Paul, Mike and the entire PLL organization, thank you for taking our sport to the next level. You have been pivotal in growing the game and I am honored to be a part of it.

To my teammates, it has been an honor and privilege to share the field with you. Thank you for the endless memories and experiences we have gone through together over the years.

To my friends and family, thank you for your constant support. Knowing I always had you all in my corner made this experience that much more memorable.

Lauren, Brian and Lindsey, thank you for traveling the world to support and cheer me on. I always knew I could lean on you through the good and bad. You have helped shape me into the person I am today and most importantly, kept me humbled.

Mom and Dad, you both have been my biggest fans since the beginning. I do not know where I’d be without you. I am forever grateful for all of the opportunities you have provided me with. Your sacrifices, encouragement and belief in me helped paved the way for my success. Your unwavering love and support has allowed me to become the best version of myself on and off the field. Thank you for everything, I love you both.

To my wife Maureen, thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made that allowed me to live out my dream and continue playing the sport I loved for all these years. Without you, I would not have been able to do it. You have been there for the ups and the downs, and I can always count on you no matter what. I love you and am so excited for the next chapter in our lives and cannot wait to teach our son this sport.

Lacrosse has provided me with more opportunities and relationships than I could have ever imagined. This sport will forever be a part of my life. Thank you to everyone who has been there for me throughout my journey.

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Ehrhardt is one of the most dominant LSMs the league has ever seen. 

Since the PLL’s inception, he’s won every single Brodie Merrill LSM of the Year award. That’s five years in a row.

He propelled the Whipsnakes to the inaugural PLL Championship in 2019, and then went back-to-back and won again in 2020. He’s also a two-time Gold Medalist with Team USA, winning the 2018 World Games MVP.

Just watching him, you can tell what a special talent he is. He’s a force in the middle of the field and in transition, using his speed and size to create chaos for opponents. He’s set the standard for offensive-minded LSM’s in the league.

Over the course of his professional career, he racked up 44 goals including 21 two-point goals, the most among a long-pole and tied for 10th all-time.

"I always told myself I wanted to go out on my own terms," said Ehrhardt. "I really wanted to do one more World Games with the same coaching staff. That was something that was really important to me. So I kind of gave myself a time frame of where I'd really consider stepping away from the game. I thought that I had done everything I wanted to do in my career.”