Bears' Long retires after 7 seasons

Kyle Long is stepping away from the game after seven seasons.

The Chicago Bears guard announced on Twitter that he's retiring from the NFL.

Some chicagoans are probably happy to hear I'm finally stepping away and getting my body right. Some Chicagoans may be sad to hear this. Either way ufeel about it, I want u to know how lucky I am to have spent time in your city. I became a man while playing in Chicago.Thank youai

- Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) January 6, 2020

Special thanks to Phil Emery, Marc Trestman and the rest of that staff for bringing me in. Thanks to and happy birthday to the young lady named Virginia as well. Ryan pace, thank you for keeping me around as well TM1/4

- Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) January 6, 2020

Long was one of the league's top interior linemen in his prime but battled through various injuries toward the end of his career.

The 31-year-old missed 26 games over the last three seasons. A hip injury ended his 2019 campaign.

Long was the Bears' first-round pick in the 2013 draft. He earned three straight Pro Bowl nods from 2013 to 2015 and was a second-team All-Pro in 2014.

Rachael, look on the bright side.... I was drafted a bear and I decided to retire a bear. Not many can say that https://t.co/pZMBMpBhuW

- Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) January 6, 2020

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.