Justin Tuck Announces Retirement After 11 NFL Seasons

The Bay Area is the center of the NFL world this week, ahead of Super Bowl 50, and news that Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will retire has grabbed plenty of buzz. But news of another player’s retirement has surfaced on Monday afternoon, with defensive end Justin Tuck deciding to call it a career after 11 seasons.

Tuck spent his final two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, with just six sacks in 20 games for the team before missing the final 11 games of this season with a torn pectoral. That injury surely was a factor in Tuck’s decision to retire, but the piece written by Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports conveying the news suggests he considered retirement in February of 2012 after his second Super Bowl win with the New York Giants.

“After months of praying and careful consideration, I have decided to retire from the game of football,” Tuck wrote on Facebook. “I’ve had 11 great years and honestly I leave with very few regrets.”

Tuck will finish his career with 66.5 sacks, including four seasons with 10 or more sacks and two Pro Bowl selections (2008 and 2010), and he got high marks for his leadership along with his production on the field. As he nears 33 years old (March 29), Tuck presumably will leave his playing career with few concerns about his long-term health, and he seems to be the rare athlete who is retiring on his own terms.