Former Troy Trojan football standout DeMarcus Ware announced his retirement from the National Football League on Monday afternoon.

Ware posted on his twitter account on Monday that after 12 years in the league that it was time for him to leave.

“After a lot of thought and prayer I’ve decided to accept the unknown and retire from my NFL career,” Ware stated on Twitter. “Tempting opportunities still present themselves for me to play and I feel better than I have in years. However, long-term health and quality of life outweigh the spark and passion to play that I once had.”

Ware, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2005 draft, finished his career as Troy’s all time leader in tackles for loss with 55.5. He also ranks near the top in sacks with 27 for a loss of 198 yards. Ware was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Decade team and was named the conference’s defensive player of the year in 2004.

“Congratulations to DeMarcus on an outstanding career,” said Troy head coach Neal Brown. “He is a true professional and a first-class representative of Troy University. The NFL was better because of DeMarcus Ware and he is a surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.”

Ware played in the NFL for parts of 12 seasons as a member of both the Cowboys and Denver Broncos, where he won a championship in Super Bowl 50. Ware sits in eighth place on the all-time sacks list with 138.5. Ware was a Pro Bowl participant nine times over his career and was also a four-time All-Pro.

According to Richard Shaughnessy, Ware’s former strength and conditioning coach at Troy University, his decision to retire was based on health and family.

“It came down to family and quality of life,” Shaughnessy said. “He is 34 years old and I just think it was time. He thinks things through and if he got to that point then I know it’s in stone.”

Even with all the success he had on the field, both collegiately and in the NFL, Ware’s legacy will be remembered mostly for what he did off the field..

“When you walk into the weight room his jersey is one of the first jerseys you see,” Shaughnessy said. “He is not only a great football player, but he is a great person to model yourself after. He was drafted as a person as much as he was a football player.

A lot of the kids now still ask what type of a person was he and how did he handle himself. He worked himself into being a great player and he still does.”

Even though Ware’s days of terrorizing quarterbacks on the football field may be over, Shaughnessy believes he may not be done with the game of football.

“I think he will have a commentating deal on the table,” Shaughnessy said. “He has some business opportunities.