Justin Tuck retires after 11 seasons in NFL

Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck announced on Monday that he is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.

The retirement was announced on Facebook. Tuck began to think about retiring in 2012 after dealing with a neck injury and losing his grandfather and two uncles, according to Fox Sports. Tuck said physically he feels like he could play with the best of them. He said that if Tom Coughlin, who quit his job as the coach of the New York Giants in January, was still with the Giants then he might not have retired.

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

“I want to thank the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders for giving me a place I could call home all of these years. The Mara, Tisch, and Davis families, I’m forever in your debt. To my coaches: thanks for having me ready at every stage – the Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, you name it – thank you for teaching me about professionalism, preparation, and the pursuit of perfection. To my teammates: thank you for always going to battle with me each and every gameday, but more importantly, thanks for being my brothers for life.”

Tuck was drafted by the Giants in 2005. He played for the Giants for nine years, winning two Super Bowls and made two Pro Bowls. Before the 2014 season he joined the Raiders. He had 35 tackles and six sacks in two seasons with the Raiders, according to Sports Illustrated. Tuck ends his career with 66.5 sacks, which puts him 89th on the all-time list, NFL.com notes. In 2008 and 2010 Tuck received all-NFL honors.

Tuck would like to stay involved in football in some capacity, maybe doing some tv work. He could also try to have a career in private equity and real estate, where he has made a lot of connections.