Baltimore Ravens’ Jonathan Ogden announced his retirement Thursday after a 12-year career in the NFL. During that time he established himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history.

Ogden, was the Ravens’ 1st draft choice ever, the 4th overall in the 1996 NFL draft. He ends his career with 176 regular season starts, more than any other player in franchise history and is 2nd in games played with 177 to Matt Stover’s 191. He is also tied with Ray Lewis and Stover in Ravens’ history with 8 postseason games played. The 11-time Pro Bowler (1997-2007), ties for the 4th-most Pro Bowl appearances in NFL history. Only 3 offensive lineman; Bruce Matthews-14, Randall McDaniel-12 and Will Shields-12, have been to Hawaii more. He was also part of the 2000 Super Bowl XXXV Championship team.

The decision to retire was based on the fact that he wasn’t able to operate at peak efficiency with a hyper extended big toe. “When you play football for as long as I have, it’s really difficult to know injuries just won’t let you play at the level that you all and myself expect me to play,” the 33-year-old Ogden stated in a packed auditorium. “Could I have still gone out there and played? Yes, probably, and still done an adequate job,” Ogden said. “But in my mind, I wouldn’t have been helping the team as much as I needed to. And it wouldn’t have been good for me.”

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, who made Ogden the team’s first-ever draft pick in 1996, said, “I’ve had the opportunity to be in this league for over 30 years, and I’ve had a chance to witness a lot of very good football players. But in my humble opinion, there’s not a player I’ve seen in those 30 years that played their position as well as Jonathan Ogden played his.”

Ogden’s retirement comes during an offseason in which players such as Brett Favre, Michael Strahan and Warren Sapp have also stepped aside.

“I would just like to be remembered as a guy who was respected by everybody,” Ogden said. “We don’t have the stats like at every other position, so it’s more about how people respect you. I just wanted to be one of the most respected linemen that played the game. And I think I have done that.”