Oakland Raiders' Charles Woodson to retire after season

Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson announced Monday that he will retire at the end of this season, his 18th in the NFL.

Woodson reportedly came to the decision late in November and wanted to go public with the news before playing his final home game Thursday night against the San Diego Chargers.

Woodson is tied for fifth in NFL history with 65 interceptions and is still playing at a high level at age 39. He ranks second in the NFL with eight takeaways this season (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries) and was the top vote-getter among safeties in fan voting for the Pro Bowl.

Woodson won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan, the first and only primarily defensive player to win college football's top individual honor.

The runner-up in the Heisman balloting that year was Peyton Manning. It wasn't until this season -- in a 16-10 home loss to the Broncos -- that Woodson intercepted Manning, and he did it twice.