D’Brickashaw Ferguson is hanging up his cleats after 10 years in the NFL, all of them spent with the Jets.

The offensive lineman who never missed a single game bid farewell to fans in what might be the most beautifully-written farewell letter written by an athlete:

Some excerpts:

“I can still remember what it felt like almost 10 years ago as I walked across the stage at Radio City Music Hall. I was selected fourth overall in the 2006 NFL draft and was overwhelmed with the enormity of such an occasion. The loud cheers and clapping hands still echo in my memories. It was a very special moment for me then, as it is now. …

“I am sure some of you might be pondering: Why now? Well, my goal coming into this league was to become the best player I could be. I never wanted to define myself by the size of a potential contract, but rather by my ability to compete with the best that the game could offer. Though I was successful in accomplishing that feat largely throughout my career, the difficulty in playing at such a level began to increase. …

“I am proud of what I have accomplished in this league, but football has also taught me that you can’t do it all alone. Others have sacrificed so much to allow me the opportunity to be where I am today, people who have paved the way before me, people who have invested in my life and willingly worked with me to help me achieve my dreams.”

[presto-gallery id=”81848722″ title=”NFL Power Rankings” type=”presto”]