Monday 8 February 2016 09:51, UK
Marshawn Lynch has announced his retirement by posting a picture on Twitter, drawing tributes from the Seattle Seahawks.
The running back has been heavily linked with retirement after an injury-disrupted 2015 and, during the Super Bowl on Sunday night, he posted a picture of his cleats hanging from a telephone line to indicate the end of his career.
The Seahawks, in response, tweeted "#thankyoubeastmode" while team-mate Richard Sherman posted: "It was an honour sharing the field with you".
The 29-year-old won one Super Bowl during his nine-year NFL career when the Seahawks defeated Denver Broncos two years ago.
Lynch gained 9,112 yards in his career which started with the Buffalo Bills in 2007 before he switched to Seattle in 2010. Known as a maverick off the field, Lynch shot to fame last year when he shunned the media before the Super Bowl, repeatedly telling them: "I'm just here so I don't get fined".
The Seahawks ultimately lost last year's showpiece game to New England Patriots after a bizarre last-gasp decision to not hand the ball to Lynch within rushing distance of the end-zone.
But this season, hamstring and abdominal injuries restricted him to just seven appearances and he has followed through on indications that he might walk away from the NFL.
