Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is retiring at age 28 after eight seasons in the NFL.
Kuechly announced the news in a video posted on the Panthers website on Tuesday.
"Now is the right time for me (to step away)," the seven-time Pro Bowler said in the video. "It's a tough decision. I've thought about it a lot and now is the right chance for me to move on.
Luke Kuechly was a former Defensive Player of the Year and perennial probowler.