April 27 (UPI) -- Longtime New England Patriots fullback James Develin is retiring from the NFL due to "unforeseen complications" from a neck injury that required surgery last year.
"Due to unforeseen complications with the injury that ended my season last year, I have decided it is both in my and my family's best interest to retire from the game of football," Develin wrote Monday on Instagram. "I've always maintained a [belief] that in the sport, the team is much more important than myself as an individual.
"And that [belief] still rings true, as I have to prioritize my team at home before anything else.