FORMER Super Bowl champion Brian Allen has announced his retirement from the NFL aged 29.
Allen was released by the Cleveland Browns last August - just three months after joining.
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He had been struggling with a calf issue which resulted in him being handed an injury settlement.
And having battled with various other injury setbacks throughout his career, the center has decided to hang up his cleats.
In a statement on social media, Allen wrote: "The last few years have been tough physically and mentally and it has become pretty apparent my body can't meet the demands of what an NFL season requires anymore.
"I love this s***, I always have and I always will. I'm going to miss it for the rest of my life.
"I can honestly say to myself I've left it all out there and I don't have anything left to give or prove this game as a player."
Allen joined the Los Angeles Rams as a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
After making 13 appearances during his first season as a backup, he missed most of the 2019 season and all of the 2020 season due to separate injuries.
His best year was 2021 when he started 16 out of 17 games in the NFL regular season and all four play-off games.
He also helped the Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.
Allen made just five appearances the following year due to knee and thumb injuries before losing his starting place to Coleman Shelton.
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He was eventually released by the Rams last February.
Allen is retiring with over $11million in career earnings.
The 29-year-old's older brother Jack, 32, was also an NFL center before he retired.
He starred for the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.
