Alan Faneca Confirms Retirement From NFL

Long-time Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca made it official and announced his retirement on Tuesday. He released a statement thanking the three teams with whom he spent 13 years. He also thanked the reports who covered him and the fans who cheered for him.

Faneca was one of the all-time greats along the offensive line with nine All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl appearances. You'll hear some Hall of Fame chatter in a few years.

Here is his entire statement on his retirement:

"After a lot of thought I am announcing my retirement from Professional Football. Playing in the NFL has been a childhood dream come true. Thirteen years later I have decided that it is time to move on.

"From the dog days of training camp to winning a Super Bowl the memories are endless. The greatest memory that I will leave the game with is all of the lifelong friendships I have made

"I want to specifically thank the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals. Each and every teammate, coach and front office employee has made a lasting impact on my life. It was a pleasure playing for first class organizations who surrounded me with incredibly dedicated individuals. I want to thank each of the beat writers that covered me throughout my career. These guys work hard and always treated me with respect. I want to also thank the fans. The roar of the crowd kept me going more than the fans will ever know.

"It is time to move on to the next chapter in my life. I can't wait to spend more time with my family. Playing in this league for as long as I did takes sacrifice, not only by me, but by each of them. I want to thank Julie, Annabelle and Burton for allowing me to fulfill all of my boyhood dreams. I couldn't have done it without you."

Check out Behind The Steel Curtain to see what long-time Steelers fans are remembering about him.