Former Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin will retire from the NFL after 10 seasons.
Quin, a fourth-round pick of the Texans in 2009, spent his first four seasons in Houston before joining the Lions. Detroit released the 33-year-old in February and he chose not to sign with another team.
Lions general manager Bob Quinn congratulated Quin on his decision via Twitter.
“It is with great admiration and respect that we congratulate Glover Quin on his retirement following 10 seasons in the National Football League — six of which were spent with the Lions,” Quinn said. “Throughout his time in Detroit, Glover was the definition of a leader in everything he did. In addition to his consistent play on the field, his presence in the locker room for younger players and his natural ability to connect with our community defined his legacy as a Lion.”
Quin, who started the final 148 games of his career and had 24 interceptions, announced his decision to ESPN via text message on Tuesday.
“Playing professional sports was always a dream of mine. Football was the route I chose and God blessed me to be able to persevere through all the hardships and play 10 years in the NFL,” Quin wrote in a text message to ESPN. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity I had to play in the NFL with such great players and two great organizations.
“Football was never who I was as a person. It was always what I had done. I wanted to use football as a stepping stone into the rest of my life and not let football be my life. I always only wanted to play 10 years. Said if I was able to walk off the field after the last game in Year 10, it would be really hard for me to walk back on. I’m young, I’m healthy and I got a lot of life to live. So I’m walking away from the game of football.”
Quin led the league with seven interceptions and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2014.
