Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals
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Andrew Whitworth has called it a career. After contemplating his future in the NFL following the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl LVI title, the 40-year-old left tackle announced his retirement from the game in a social media post on Tuesday. Whitworth has been mulling retirement since the Super Bowl and had previously noted back in late February that he was leaning toward walking away. Now, that decision is official. 

"I'm Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams and I'm here to close the chapter on my NFL playing career," he said to begin his farewell address. "I have played this game most of my life. At one time, my story felt it would end with frustrations of Pro Bowl snubs, wins without championships, and have a career record of being 0-7 in the playoffs. I even lost my first chance at winning a Super Bowl. But that's not how the story ended. I still held the pen. 

"As long as we are blessed in life to have opportunity, we have the chance to write our own story. ... Thank you to all my teammates for chasing greatness with me, our fellowship in the locker room, and our brotherhood off the field. Thank you to the coaches and support staff who have always been there for me. And to my family and friends, I could have never done it without you. I love you. 

"The next chapter is exciting and I can't wait to fall in love with football in a whole new way. Finally, to the game of football, thank you for the moments both high and low because all of those moments helped me become who I am. My chapter as football player No. 77 has ended, but I can't wait to see how my football story continues."  

Whitworth originally entered the NFL as a first-round draft choice of the Bengals. He'd spent 11 years in Cincinnati before joining the Rams as a free agent in 2017. For his career, he was named to three All-Pro teams and four Pro Bowls. With Los Angeles, he reached the Super Bowl twice and finally was able to hoist a Lombardi Trophy for the first time in his career in what has proven to be his final game as a pro. 

With Whitworth now retired, Joe Noteboom -- who just signed a three-year, $40 million extension with the Rams this week -- is the most logical successor at left tackle for Los Angeles.