Four-time Pro Bowler, longtime Denver Broncos OT Ryan Clady announces retirement

Four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Ryan Clady announced his retirement Tuesday on his Twitter account.

Clady has been without a team since the New York Jets released him in February.

"Despite having several teams who are currently interested in signing me, I have made a very difficult decision to retire from my NFL playing career," Clady said. "I have deliberated on this decision thoroughly until now because I wanted to see if the beginning of NFL training camps would inspire the passion that I need to perform at the standards that I established for myself during my nine-year NFL career."

The 30-year-old Clady was one of the top left tackles in the NFL during his eight seasons with the Denver Broncos. He spent his final season with the Jets.

He was a first-round pick in 2008 out of Boise State and started all 16 regular-season games in each of his first five seasons. Three of his Pro Bowl selections came during that span.

Clady played just two games in 2013 due to a foot injury. He returned to collect Pro Bowl honors the following season but missed the entire 2015 campaign due to an ACL injury in his left knee.

Clady was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2016 season but played just nine games. He finished the season on injured reserve due to a torn rotator cuff.

Clady reportedly visited the Seattle Seahawks recently but there wasn't a contract offer.

Clady played in 107 regular-season games, starting 106.

"I am excited about what life holds for me going forward," Clady said in his announcement.