Roughly a decade ago, Jermon Bushrod won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.
Thursday night he was back in the Mercedes-Benz Super to announce his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons as a member of the team that gave him "a lot of good years."
"This place just means a lot to me," he said shortly after making the announcement on the broadcast.
Bushrod said had been contacted by four or five teams about coming in, one as recent as last week, and that he felt like he could still play.
"I'll be 55 years old and feel like I could still go block somebody," he said. "You know it's not going to happen, but that's just the competitor in me."
Bushrod said he was happy with his decision to call it a career as he'll have time to spend with his family.
"We got another child on the way and I need to be there for my kids," he said. "I need to be able to run around and do the things that I want to do so, right now, it just felt like the right decision to make."
Bushrod, a two-time Pro-Bowler, spent time with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins during his career. Saints coach Sean Payton said he was glad to see Bushrod come back to the New Orleans for his announcement.
"Especially someone like him who has had a great career I think it is important," Payton said. "He's really a good player and a great teammate. The guys have so much respect for him. It was good seeing him a the game."
Bushrod was well liked in the Saints locker room said one thing he will miss about not playing is his the camaraderie with his teammates.
Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said Bushrod was actually one of the first players to talk with him when joined the Saints after being traded from the Jets last preseason.
"He and I actually share the same barber. So if you see a nice wave on his head, that's a credit to our barber," Bridgewater joked. "He is a great guy, a family guy... He had a great career. I am honored to have been able to play a year here with him."
