Baltimore Ravens Pro-Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis announced Wednesday that he will follow through with his plans to retire at the end of this season.
Lewis simply told the team that "this will be my last ride."
He also said "it is time for me to create a new legacy" after 17 NFL seasons.
It's not known whether he'll be healthy enough to play for the first time since tearing his triceps two months ago when the Ravens play host to the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's wild-card game. All that's known is that he'll be on the active roster.
But if so, Sunday will likely be Lewis' final game in Baltimore.
Lewis has gone to 13 Pro Bowls, been named first-team All-Pro seven times and has been voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.
He led the Ravens to the 2000 Super Bowl when he was the key figure on a defense that set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season.
Lewis had hinted at retirement previously. He said last summer that he couldn't see himself playing past the age of 37. Lewis turned 37 in May.
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