CHARLOTTE – Greg Olsen is hanging them up.
The tight end announced his retirement during FOX's pregame show ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship between the Buccaneers and Packers. Olsen will join the network full-time in his post-playing career.
Olsen ends his football career ranked fifth in NFL history for receiving yards (8,683) and receptions (742) among tight ends in the Super Bowl era. His 60 touchdowns rank eighth among players at the position.
Originally drafted by Chicago in 2007, Olsen was traded to the Panthers in 2011. He went on to play nine seasons in Carolina, earning three Pro Bowl nods and two AP All-Pro Second Team designations.
Olsen is Carolina's all-time leader in receiving yards (6,463), receptions (524) and 100-yard receiving games (10) by a tight end. He finished second behind Wesley Walls (44) in receiving touchdowns with 39 as a Panther.
From 2014-16, Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Along with his on-field production, Olsen made an immense impact in the Charlotte community through the Greg Olsen Foundation, providing resources to families affected by cancer and cardiovascular diseases. He was a two-time finalist for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in part from his work with the HEARTest Yard program with the Atrium Health's Levine Children's Hospital, raising money and provide programmatic support for children with congenital heart diseases.
Olsen played nine seasons in Carolina and finished his career ranked third all-time in receiving yards and receptions in franchise history and first among tight ends.
Captains Cam Newton, Julius Peppers, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Ryan Kalil and Greg Olsen walk out to midfield during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, November 26, 2017.
Greg Olsen is tackled after making a reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Greg Olsen and Christian McCaffrey celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, November 18, 2018. The Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 in Detroit, MI.
Greg Olsen scores a touchdown during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Greg Olsen and his family deliver beanies specially designed for patients at Levine Children's Hospital on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
during the Carolina Panthers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October, 29, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.
