In a letter penned to the Players’ Tribune on Friday morning, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers announced his retirement from the NFL.
There was speculation that Peppers would walk away from football before the 2018 season, but he re-upped with the Panthers, signing a one-year deal worth $5 million.
The 17-year veteran played 10 of his professional seasons in Carolina — two stints separated by seven years — as well as four with Chicago and three in Green Bay.
“. . . as much as I would love to play forever, I know that I can’t,” Peppers said.