ST. LOUIS -- La'Roi Glover, a six-time Pro Bowl selection at defensive tackle who once led the NFL in sacks, announced his retirement Monday after 13 seasons.
Glover, who turns 35 on July 4, spent the past three seasons with St. Louis. He was not re-signed following the 2008 season, when he had 30 tackles and one-half sack. A Rams spokesman said the team had no comment.
"I'm blessed that I was able to play this game that I love for so long. It has been such an incredible journey," Glover said in a prepared statement.
Glover was selected by Oakland in the fifth round of the 1996 draft out of San Diego State. Considered undersized at 290 pounds, he played in just two games as a rookie, with two tackles and no sacks.
His career took off a year later in New Orleans, where he had 50 sacks over five seasons, including an NFL-best 17 in 2000 -- a rare feat for a tackle. From 1998-2000, only two players had more sacks than Glover's 35.5 -- Kevin Carter (39.5) and Warren Sapp (36).
Glover had 21.5 sacks in four seasons in Dallas and 12 in three seasons in St. Louis. He signed with the Rams as a free agent before the 2006 season.
Glover had 627 tackles and 83.5 sacks for his career. He was also known for his durability. After playing 15 games in 1997, Glover played in all 16 games in each of the past 11 seasons.
He has also earned off-the-field honors. He established the La'Roi Glover Foundation in 1999, providing scholarships to San Diego-area students and assisting children's charities. He was the Rams' 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner.
The Rams are getting younger under new coach Steve Spagnuolo. Veteran quarterback Trent Green, 38, announced his retirement earlier this month.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
