Spander: Lott the last lord of the ringsSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Safety Ronnie Lott, a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and winner of four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, announced his retirement Tuesday.
With the support of friends and family, Ronnie Lott announces his retirement. At left are his wife and children; at right is Joe Montana. (13k jpg)
Niners president Carmen Policy touts Lott as one of the best. (178k wav) | RealAudio | About RealAudio
Lott, 36, was voted to the Pro Bowl a record-tying 10 times during a 15-year career with the Los Angeles Raiders, the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs as well as San Francisco. He joins Lawrence Taylor and Mike Singletary as the only players ever chosen for 10 Pro Bowls.
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| Ronnie Lott spent the best years of his career with the 49ers, collecting 51 interceptions and four Super Bowl rings in 10 seasons. |
Lott spent last season on the Chiefs' injured reserve list after breaking his left leg in a preseason game.
"I realized that I've exhausted my ability to play the game," he said. "My philosophy is to live life to the fullest, and to play the game to the fullest. I'm not able to be a productive player in the NFL any longer. I didn't want to hang on indefinitely."
Lott broke into the league in 1981 with San Francisco and played 10 seasons with the 49ers, serving as the driving force on the defense as the team won four Super Bowl titles in the 1980s. With the 49ers, Lott made more than 700 tackles and intercepted 51 passes.
Lott joined the Los Angeles Raiders from 1991-92 before signing as a free agent with the Jets for two years.
"I think Ronnie will always be thought of primarily as a San Francisco 49er," said Niners General Manager Carmen Policy. "He has been one of the most featured, and certainly one of the most fantastic players we've ever had on any 49er team. He typifies a warrior and he is the consummate competitor."
Lott started 189 of 192 career games and recorded 63 interceptions, the fifth-best total in league history behind Paul Krause, Emlen Tunnell, Dick "Night Train" Lane and Ken Riley. He also amassed 1,161 tackles, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, 8½ sacks and 170 passes defensed.
The University of Southern California standout also tied an NFL standard with nine interceptions in 20 postseason contests along with 89 tackles. In 1994, the NFL named him to the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Lott was the eighth pick overall in the 1981 draft. He intercepted seven passes and returned three for touchdowns in his rookie year as the 49ers won the first of their four Super Bowl titles in the 1980s.