Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announces his NFL retirement as the Super Bowl 50 champion and 2x Pro Bowler admits ‘I gave the game everything I had and the game gave it back to me’
- Emmanuel Sanders will not be playing in this season’s NFL following retirement
- Denver Broncos’ 35-year-old wide received called time on career Wednesday
- As well as the Broncos he played for 49ers, New Orleans Saints and the Bills
Denver Broncos’ Emmanuel Sanders has called time on his NFL career, saying ‘I gave the game everything I had and the game gave it back to me’.
The 35-year-old wide receiver announced his retirement Wednesday after winning Super Bowl 50 seven years ago.
Sanders was about to head into his 13th NFL season after starting out with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. He also played for San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills.
Denver Broncos’ Emmanuel Sanders, who won Super Bowl 50, has called time on NFL career
‘I don’t have the itch,’ he told the team’s official website.
‘And I think I don’t have the itch because I know I gave the game everything that I had to offer. … I gave it my all. Every single rep, every single play. I tried to go 100 percent, as hard as I can. … I gave the game everything that I had, and the game gave it back to me.
‘I’m walking away three Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl ring and memories of a lifetime. I’m absolutely blessed and grateful for the opportunity to be able to play this game at the level that I played at.’
Sanders intends to make the most of more time with his family after weighing up the decision for a significant period of time.
‘For me, I feel like it’s the right time for me,’ he added.
‘Twelve years. I’m walking away from the game healthy. I’ve had a great career. I played in a lot of great games. Three Super Bowls. Pro Bowls. I played for some great organizations.
‘And so I just feel like it’s my time. Twelve is good for me. Now I can go and run routes with my son and play basketball with my son, hang out with my kids and enjoy my life.’