Weddle knows he can still play but 'heart's not in it'

Veteran safety Eric Weddle announced his retirement from the NFL last week despite the fact he knows he can still play at a high level.

The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro was invited to the Pro Bowl as recently as the 2018 season. But this past campaign, his 13th in the league and first with the Los Angeles Rams, was a grind for the 35-year-old.

"It was a long season last year," Weddle said to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "To have the mental fortitude to get through every week, and be at my best, it took a lot out of me. There were times after wins, after losses, where I was by myself at my apartment, and it was tough."

Weddle injured his knee in Week 1 but managed to suit up for all 16 games. By the end of the year, he had pieces of cartilage surrounding his knee.

He also missed his family, which was just a two-and-a-half-hour drive away in San Diego, but the commute wasn't always stress-free.

"I thought, 'What's one more year?' I know I can still play, and play at a high level, even with the knee," Weddle said. "But thinking about going through a whole season, going through the pain, honestly, it made me sick to my stomach.

"And I realized if my heart's not in it, my mind's not in it, then it's time to go. I always follow my gut and that's what I'm feeling right now."

Weddle retires with 1,178 total tackles, 29 interceptions, and 9.5 sacks. He spent nine years with the San Diego Chargers, three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, and one campaign with the Rams.

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