After eight years as a wide receiver in the NFL, Eric Decker announced his retirement on Sunday afternoon.
The 31-year-old University of Minnesota graduate revealed the news on Instagram and thanked his family, friends, and fans for their support. "It has been my childhood dream and my passion to play the game of football," he wrote. "I was very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to have those dreams fulfilled and to have played with such extremely talented and hard-working teammates, coaches, and staff."
While he didn't get into specifics, Decker did hint that he will remain involved with the game of football moving forward. "I love football and always will," he explained. "It will continue to be a part of my life. I'm looking forward to spending more time with my wife and kids."
After being drafted as a third-round pick by the Denver in 2010, Decker finished his career with 439 catches for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns in 111 games for the Broncos, Jets, and Titans. He signed with the New England Patriots earlier this month but had an outside chance at making the final roster—catching just two of seven targets for 12 yards in the last two weeks of preseason play.
In Decker's absence, Julian Edelman sits atop the Patriots' depth chart at receiver, followed by Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Edelman will miss the first four games of this season due to suspension.
Outside of football, Decker has starred in three seasons of a reality show on E! called Eric & Jessie: Game On with his wife Jessie James Decker.
