After 13 years playing guard and center in the NFL, former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Joe Berger has decided to retire from football.
It was reported that offensive lineman Joe Berger reportedly had offers on the table from the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions in free agency heading into the 2018 NFL season, but the guard/center will be signing with neither.
As reported on NFL.com, Berger has made the tough decision to retire from the NFL at the age of 35. The offensive lineman was contemplating hanging up his cleats following the previous season but decided to stick around for one more year before making the big decision.
Berger announced his retirement in a statement on Twitter that was shared by Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, NFL Network, and 1500ESPN.
"“After a lot of careful thought and prayer I have decided to retire from football. I have been fortunate to enjoy 13 seasons and have had the opportunity to play with so many good players and coaches. I was on some great teams before the Vikings, but it wasn’t until I got to Minnesota that I really felt at home.”"
13 seasons is a long career in the NFL, where the average career for a player is 3.3 years according to Statista.com. Berger found his role in the league after being a sixth-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2005 NFL Draft.
During his career, he spent time with many teams, including the Panthers, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Vikings. He ended his career in Minnesota after being signed by the Vikings on September 12, 2011, spending 7 years with the team.
Minnesota Vikings
"“For seven years I was able to play for a great organization and in front of the best fans. U.S. Bank Stadium is an incredible place to play football. My family and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I was given. I will miss my teammates and the game but am looking forward to this next chapter. So many people have had a part in my career and I hope some day I’ll be able to personally thank each one of them. Thanks for the memories! SKOL Vikings!”"
Berger says farewell to a career where he played in 145 games, starting 84 of them. While offensive linemen don’t usually accumulate many stats, he is credited for 9 tackles and 1 fumble recovery over the course of 13 years.
Next: Which 2018 free-agents will the Vikings re-sign?
Congratulations to Joe Berger on having a long career in the NFL and retiring on his own terms after 13 years in the NFL. Also, we at The Viking Age would like to thank Berger for his time with the Minnesota Vikings and wish him nothing but the best going forward.