Veteran offensive lineman Dan Connolly, a captain of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots this past season, cited concussion concerns as the primary reason for walking away from football at age 32.
Announcing his retirement, Connolly told ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, "It's important to me to leave the game healthy. I'm able to be here for my kids and walk away on my own terms. I feel like I got everything I could out of football in playing 10 years, winning a Super Bowl, and playing alongside some truly great players."
Connolly was diagnosed with five concussions during his football career, including four in eight NFL seasons dating back to 2005, when he originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State.