Steve Smith

Steve Smith officially retires from NFL

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. has announced his retirement from the National Football League after 16 seasons.

What It Means:

"This is to notify you that as of today I will no longer be antagonizing defensive backs. I am retiring from the NFL," Smith penned in his official retirement letter to commissioner Roger Goodell. The 37-year-old wideout spent the first 13 years of his career with the Carolina Panthers, after they selected him as a third-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, before he joined the Ravens for three more productive seasons. Once seen as too short to really make an impact in the league, Smith will deserve serious Hall of Fame consideration when he becomes eligible.

Smith's 14,731 receiving yards for his career are the seventh-most in NFL history, while his 1,031 receptions (12th) and 81 touchdowns (26th) are both in the top-30 all-time.