Longtime New England Patriots DT Vince Wilfork signs one-day contract, retires with old team

Former Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork signed a one-day contact with New England on Wednesday so he could officially retire as a member of the Patriots.

Wilfork, 35, played the first 11 of his 13 NFL seasons with New England and was a Pro Bowler five times, including four consecutive seasons from 2009-12.

"It was truly an honor to have coached him," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during the ceremony. "Best defensive lineman I have ever coached."

Wilfork spent his final two NFL seasons with the Houston Texans. Coincidentally, his final game was at Foxborough, Mass., where the Titans lost to the Patriots in an AFC Divisional playoff game last January.

The 325-pound Wilfork considered returning for one more season before deciding against it. He is still weighing his post playing-career options.

"I don't have no plans," Wilfork said. "For 20 years I've been on a schedule, and the last thing I want to do is jump into something right now. I'm going to take some time. It might be a year or so I'm going to take off and kind of do things I want to do.

"Wake up when I want to, fish when I want to, golf when I want ... just live life. Let my body relax, let my body get a feel of what life without having workouts and no schedule, being here, being there, just let my body relax and just go."

Wilfork, a first-round pick in 2004, finished his career with 16 sacks, five forced fumbles and three interceptions in 189 NFL games. He played college football at Miami.