Tuesday 22 August 2017 17:15, UK
Linebacker Zach Orr has confirmed his retirement from the NFL after trying to resurrect his career this summer.
Orr attempted a comeback this off-season after originally deciding to bring an end to his career back in January aged only 24 at the end of a year when he led the Baltimore Ravens with 132 tackles.
Ravens doctors found that one of the vertebrae in Orr's neck was not completely formed after he struggled with neck problems late last season and sustained a pair of herniated disks.
After consulting players who had returned from similar issues Orr started to contact teams, including the Ravens, but they could not pass him medically.
That pattern continued with other teams - six he met in person and 11 more he spoke to over the phone - and that, Orr told The Players Tribune, meant retirement for a second time and taking his place in the stands as a Ravens fan.
"I chose to come back on my own because like I said, after my family, football is my greatest love," Orr wrote.
"And when I saw a slight glimmer of hope that I could return to the field, I wanted to give it a shot.
"Today, I'm officially retiring from professional football...again. And I'm even more at peace this time around because the teams have spoken. If there was any way I could come back, I would.
"I'm one of you guys now. I'm joining the flock. I'll be wearing my purple on Friday and rooting the Ravens to victory on Sunday.
"I'm just thankful that the Ravens gave me the opportunity to show people the kind of player I could be before it was all over."
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The regular season of home and away matches run from September to December 2017, culminating in PlayOffs from January 6, 2018 and the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota to determine the world champion.
