Elvis Dumervil, who recorded 105.5 sacks during his NFL career, has decided to "step away" from the NFL to focus on his family and a business venture, he announced Thursday on Twitter.
"After spending a great deal of time talking to my family and prayerfully considering what's next in my career, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the NFL at this time," Dumervil, 34, said in his post. "It's been an incredible 12-year run."
On to the next chapter. Thank you for all of the support✊ pic.twitter.com/rA121JJNRf
— Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) August 30, 2018
Dumervil was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 draft by the Denver Broncos, with whom he spent seven years; he missed the 2010 season because of a torn pectoral. He also played four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
The defensive end was a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro selection and led the NFL with 17 sacks for Denver in 2009. Dumervil set the Ravens' single-season sacks record with 17 in 2014 and ranks 26th on the NFL's all-time sacks list.
Dumervil led the 49ers with 6.5 sacks in 2017, but the team decided not to pick up his option for the 2018 season. Last season, the 5-foot-11 Dumervil became the 32nd player to reach the 100-sack milestone since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 and the first player under 6-1 to do so. He also joined John Abraham as the only players to record at least a half-sack against all 32 NFL teams.
"My body still feels great," Dumervil wrote in his Twitter post, "and I know I can still help a team win. I will miss being on the field, particularly on Sundays. But I also have a wife and two young children who need me and a real estate business that I can now turn my attention to full time.
"Football was certainly a huge part of my life but it wasn't my entire life. I look forward to my next chapter with no regrets."
Dumervil also tallied 262 tackles, forced 23 fumbles with 13 recoveries and had an interception during his NFL career.