Longtime Packers and Browns center JC Tretter is retiring from the NFL. Tretter announced its decision Thursday, via his official Twitter account.
“In May 2011, I wrote myself a letter. I was a 250-pound tight end in rehabilitation from meniscus surgery and deciding what to do with my life,” Tretter wrote. “The letter began: ‘Today, May 7, 2011, at 2:35 a.m., you have decided that you will become a professional athlete. You will be drafted and will play in the NFL until you want to quit.'”
Tretter detailed his transition from the tight end to the offensive line and how it helped him achieve the first part of his goal, then continued: “Today is August 25, 2022, 8:30 a.m. and I have decided to complete the second part of my letter, to stop playing whenever I wanted – on my own terms.”
Tretter was drafted in the fourth round by the Packers in 2013. He missed his entire rookie season due to injury, but eventually made his way to the starting lineup at the end of his third season in the NFL. He started seven games for Green Bay in the fourth year before an injury ended his season.
He then signed a free agent contract with the Browns and played – and started – 16 games for five straight seasons. For the past several years, Tretter has also served as NFLPA president, succeeding Eric Winston. He was re-elected for a second term as president earlier this year and said in his retirement letter that he looked forward to continuing in that role and “pushing for more progress on behalf of the great players in our game, past, present and future.”
