San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith announced his retirement on Monday, and following the team announcement, Smith chatted with the media. He discussed shoulder injury issues that are behind the decision. He also talked about some of the big plays in his career and what he enjoyed about football.
Unfortunately, he reached a point physically where he could no longer be the player he wanted to be. A few years back he said he would retire rather than become a part-time player. His playing time decreased each of the last three seasons, and it was clear he was approaching the end.