Connolly is walking away with this health. (USATSI)

It's a lot easier to walk away from something you love when you're happy with how your career ended up. Such is the situation for Patriots offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who's retiring at the age of 32.

Connolly walks away from the game on top of the world, fresh off a Super Bowl win, and most importantly gets to "leave the game healthy." 

"It's important to me to leave the game healthy," Connolly told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. "I'm able to be here for my kids and walk away on my own terms. I feel like I got everything I could out of football in playing 10 years, winning a Super Bowl, and playing alongside some truly great players."

Connolly acknowledged winning a Super Bowl helped him with his decision to leave the game.

"It definitely played a part in it; helped me sleep better," Connolly said of the Pats Super Bowl win last year. "I'm more at ease with the decision."

The versatile offensive lineman was a big part of that title, playing multiple positions along the line for New England throughout the year and serving as captain of the team for the first time in 2014. 

All told Connolly -- originally an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars in 2005 -- started 71 games for the Patriots in his seven years with New England after being added as a practice squad player.