Eric Gehrig announces retirement in heartfelt Instagram post

On the six-year anniversary of signing his first professional contract, Eric Gehrig officially announced his plans to enter the next phase of his life.

A stalwart defender for four seasons with Columbus Crew SC and two more with his hometown Chicago Fire, Gehrig posted a heartfelt Instagram message Tuesday night explaining his decision to retire from pro soccer.

Gehrig was a Chicago Fire PDL standout and an all-conference performer at Loyola (Chicago) who made his way in MLS despite going undrafted out of college. Positive, passionate and relentless, Gehrig was a valuable asset on and off the field in both of his MLS stops, earning Chicago's Defender of the Year accolades despite an…