Staley: Retiring without Super Bowl win 'won't torment me'

Joe Staley announced his retirement this week after a respected 13-year career spent entirely with the San Francisco 49ers.

During that stretch, the Niners and their venerable left tackle reached the playoffs four times and the Super Bowl on two occasions, but they weren't able to lift the Lombardi Trophy. San Francisco fell one quarter short of accomplishing that goal in February, when the Kansas City Chiefs mounted a late comeback to capture Super Bowl LIV.

Though disappointed, Staley said he won't hang his head in shame about not securing a championship.

"It sucks, it really does, to not be able to win that," Staley said on a conference call Tuesday, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury. "I've been watching since (I was) five and I saw the joy it brings players to win that and hoist that trophy in the air. To reflect on the journey and how meaningful that would have been for me and the team. But it wasn't in the cards."

"It's frustrating but it won't torment me for the rest of my life," he added.

Staley also said he battled a neck injury that hampered him late in the season during the Super Bowl run.

"I gave everything I have to the game of football," he said. "I definitely don't leave my head hung in that respect. I did everything I could do but for whatever reason it just didn't happen for me or for us."

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