Nick Collins, a starting safety on the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl XLV-winning team, has announced his retirement.
"I'm officially announced (sic) my retirement from the #NFL," Collins wrote Tuesday night on Twitter. "I also would like to thank my family, friends, and the Packer Nation for the love and support."
Collins suffered a frightening neck injury on Sept. 18, 2011 against the Carolina Panthers and had not played a game since. In Sept. 2012, Collins' agent said that his client's career was likely over. However, last February, Collins alluded that a comeback was possible.
A seven-year veteran, the 31-year-old Collins started every game he played for the Packers since being drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Bethune-Cookman College. From 2008-10, his last three fully healthy seasons, Collins was named to the Pro Bowl and to the All-Pro second team each year.
In Super Bowl XLV, Collins intercepted a pass thrown by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and returned it for a touchdown. The Packers beat the Steelers31-25 to win their fourth Super Bowl.