Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers announced his retirement on Friday after 17 seasons in the NFL.

Peppers announced his decision in the Players' Tribune, roughly one month after finishing the season with five sacks, two forced fumbles and 14 tackles in 16 games.

"Seventeen years is a long time to be playing this game," Peppers wrote. "It’s two careers for a lot of people. I’m thankful that I have been able to play so long and still be healthy. I’m not all banged up and beaten down. I still feel good.

"But as much as I would love to play forever, I know that I can’t. It’s gotta end at some point. That point is now.Today, I’m retiring."

 For his career, the nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All Pro, and likely future Hall of Famer, Peppers has 552 tackles and 159.5 sacks in 266 games.

He began his career with Panthers as the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the team before joining the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 2010. In 2014, he signed with the Green Bay Packers and spent three years with the team before returning to the Panthers for the final two seasons of his career. 

The 39-year-old recorded 11 sacks in his first season back in Carolina, his highest total in five years.