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Baltimore, MD (1/10/12)-Today, Derrick Mason, who many consider to be one of the most underrated receivers in the history of the National Football League, has announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the league. The 37 year old decorated veteran says he leaves the games with no regrets and is grateful to still be in great health, “I leave it healthy and able to run and walk and not take a half-hour to get out of bed…I don’t have lingering pains as of now. Me leaving now, even though it didn’t happen the way I wanted it to happen, I had a good run. It was fun while it lasted.”

Mason endured a difficult 2011 season in which he journeyed from the Baltimore Ravens where he spent six years, to the New York Jets, and eventually his final team the Houston Texans. The former Michigan State Spartan who was the 98th pick in the 1997 draft by the Tennessee Oilers was known for his great hands and also made his mark as an excellent kick returner. The Oilers name would later be changed to the Titans and he spent eight years with the relocated franchise.

Mason carries a thorough resume missing only a championship ring, an opportunity his Titans failed to capitalize on in Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams in. “I’m done…I won’t be playing football, I only knew one play, to play football, going all-out and having fun out there,” says Mason about his playing career in the NFL. Mason still intends to be involved with the league and is currently considering some post-retirement opportunities.

For retired NFL players the opportunity to pursue broadcasting is readily available for those seeking to stay connected to the game they love. Derrick Mason is no exception to this and plans to move into a broadcasting role following in the footsteps of other former players such as Ron Jaworski, Cris Collinsworth, and Troy Aikman. Mason has recently appeared on the NFL Network and is making a conscious effort to build on previous experiences. In an recent interview Mason revealed “I’m spending some time at home and doing as much as I can to really get entrenched in some broadcasting network whether it be nationally or do something here locally (Tennessee)…I enjoy it a lot.”

Derrick Mason will leave a lasting legacy in the NFL and his accomplishments speak for themselves. In his 15 seasons as a receiver and kick returner, with the 4 organizations he played for, Mason set multiple records and etched his name in multiple lists alongside NFL legends.

As a Baltimore Raven he became the first the player in franchise history to record 100 catches in a season and before his retirement would become the Ravens all-time leading receiver. In Baltimore he also earned the respect of the Ravens organization as well as the city due to his commitment to the team and the community. The two-time Pro Bowler, once in 2000 and again in 2003, also broke the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a single season with 2,690.

Mason ranks 11th on the NFL all-time career reception list (943) and 19th on the all-time career receiving yards list with 12,061 yards. In his career he also finished with 66 touchdown receptions and ended up 14th on the list of career all-purpose yards.

We wish great luck to Derrick Mason in all endeavors he decides to pursue and have no doubt success will soon follow.