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Free-agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman announced his retirement on Twitter on Wednesday after six seasons in the NFL. Freeman, 32, cited "health and family" as top priorities and reasons for leaving the game following a difficult 2017 season.
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After three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, Freeman signed with the Indianapolis Colts in January 2012.
He had a big year in his first season in the NFL, starting all 16 games for the Colts in 2012 and collecting 145 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
Freeman had 144 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his second season, and he remained a starter all four seasons with the Colts.
He joined the Chicago Bears in 2016, and started all 12 games in which he played that year, totaling 110 tackles. However, Freeman was suspended by the league for the final four games of that season for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances.
In 2017, Freeman suffered a concussion and pectoral injury in the regular-season opener, putting him on injured reserve. In October, he was suspended 10 games for a second violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Freeman had 10 tackles in the only game he played last season.
The Bears released Freeman in February.
