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March 6 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway plans to retire after 11 NFL seasons, all with the same organization. The 34-year-old Greenway will officially announce his retirement at a press conference Tuesday at the Vikings Winter Park headquarters, the team announced Monday.
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Greenway re-signed with the Vikings to a one-year, $2.75 million deal last year and said he planned to retire after the 2016 season. He missed his rookie season because of a torn ACL, but he went on to miss only four games the rest of his career.
Greenway, who ranks fourth in franchise history with 1,334 career tackles, appeared in 156 career games with 144 starts.
Chosen by the Vikings with the 17th overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, Greenway was the first draft pick under the leadership of the Wilf family and ownership group. The Mount Vernon, S.D., native earned two Pro Bowl nods (2011 and 2012), was selected second team All-Pro in 2012 and was voted the Vikings Defensive MVP three times (2010, 2012 and 2013) throughout his career.
Greenway, who is tied with linebacker Scott Studwell for the most consecutive seasons leading the Vikings in tackles with six from 2008-2013, was named to the All-Mall of America Field Team in 2013, a recognition as one of the greatest Vikings to play in the Metrodome during its 32-year existence.
In addition to his on-field career, Greenway solidified himself as a leader within the Minnesota community with his philanthropic endeavors and was named the Vikings Community Man of the Year in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
In 2015, Greenway was named the Byron "Whizzer" White Award winner, a league-wide honor and the highest accolade bestowed by the NFL Players Association to the player for community service in their team city and hometown.
