Buccaneers C Ryan Jensen announces retirement

Field Level Media|published: Fri 2nd February, 15:55 2024

Aug 13, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen (66) looks on from the field during warm ups before a game against the Miami Dolphins during preseason at Raymond James Stadium. credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen announced over social media on Friday that he is retiring from the NFL.

Jensen, 32, has been sidelined for the last two NFL regular seasons after initially sustaining complete tears of his MCL and PCL ligaments and a partial tear of his ACL during training camp in 2022. He missed the entire 2022 campaign before returning to compete in an NFC wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys in January 2023. He aggravated the injury in that contest, resulting in him missing all of the 2023 season.

"With any chapter in the book of life, there is always an ending," Jensen wrote on Instagram. "The NFL chapter of my life is coming to a close. As this chapter closes and I reflect on every aspect of my career, it makes me proud. In the hard times and good, there is always something special to learn.

"Retiring from the game you have loved from a very young age is always hard. I am excited for this next chapter and the new opportunities and challenges it will bring."

Jensen has started all 65 regular-season games and seven postseason contests since signing with Tampa Bay prior to the 2018 season. He was named to the Pro Bowl during the 2021 season.

"You mean more to Tampa Bay than you know," the Bucs wrote on Twitter. "Go enjoy retirement!"

Jensen has played 100 games (90 starts) for the Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens (2014-17), who selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Colorado State-Pueblo.

—Field Level Media

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