Chiefs' Lilja says he's retiring - KansasCity.com

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star

Updated: 2012-12-31T22:19:18Z

After nine NFL seasons, his body told him it was time to go. Aches in his knees, his toe, his back.

Ryan Lilja listened. The Chiefs offensive lineman said on Monday he has played his last NFL game.?I?m physically ready to shut it down and kind of move on with my life and transition to whatever is next for me and my family,? Lilja said as he and his teammates cleared out their lockers. ?It?s been a great career and it?s gone by really fast. I made a ton of dynamite relationships and friends over the years and have some great experiences but I?m ready to shut it down.?As for possibly reconsidering his decision after the disappointment of the Chiefs? 2-14 season has faded, Lilja said he didn?t think that would happen.?Not likely,? he said. ?I?ve got some plans to do stuff with my body, a couple of operations that I probably wouldn?t be doing if I was playing football again. Knee and toe, specifically.?Lilja is a son of Kansas City, having attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and later Kansas State. He began his career with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004 but was signed by Indianapolis when the Chiefs tried to put him on their practice squad.He played six years for the Colts and was a member of both of their Super Bowl teams. The Chiefs signed him as a free agent in 2010 and he played three seasons in Kansas City.A guard for his first eight seasons, Lilja moved to center early this season after Rodney Hudson was lost for the year because of a broken leg.Lilja said he bought 34 tickets for family and friends for the season?s final home game against Indianapolis. That served as his retirement party. He indicated he had made the decision long ago to retire now.?Probably a year,? he said. ?Physically you hit a wall and your body kind of tells you to start thinking about it. I wanted to be in a place where I was at peace with my decision and could move forward and never regret it. I?m there.?

To reach Adam Teicher, call 816-234-4875 or send email to ateicher@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/adamteicher.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/31/3988845/chiefs-lilja-says-hes-retiring.html

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