After eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, left guard Clint Boling has called it a career, the team announced Monday.
"After eight years in the NFL, it is time for me to step away from the game due to medical reasons," said Boling. "This is not an easy decision, but it is the right one for me, my wife Kelly and our two young girls. I want to thank the Brown family for giving me the opportunity to play my entire career with the Bengals. I also want to thank my teammates, coaches, fans and everyone who has supported me throughout my career."
Bengals President Mike Brown spoke highly of Boling ahd his time with the club, saying, "Clint is a first-rate person, someone we all counted on and looked up to. As a lineman, he never got the credit he deserved. That is often the case with good players who do their jobs well, but around the team, he was highly respected and appreciated beyond his playing abilities."
Boling helped power the Bengals to five straight playoff appearances from 2011-15, including two AFC North division titles. He also blocked for four 1000-yard rushers and helped produce 100-yard rushing performances by running backs 21 times.
Despite his relatively clean bill of health, Boling had been battling an undisclosed injury throughout the offseason and his retirement adds another wrinkle to an O-line that will likely be without 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams (torn labrum) for the season.
Team reporter Marisa Contipelli later confirmed the condition Boling had been dealing with that contributed to Monday's announcement.
