Chargers center Nick Hardwick is planning to announce his retirement from football on Tuesday, according to UTSanDiego.com.
"I'm nervous about tomorrow just because it's so final," Hardwick said Monday. "To declare your intentions publicly and vocally, it's so final. But I'm also really excited. It's going to be a really good celebration of a fabulous career. I've had a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. That's where I am now, reflecting what I took from it."
Hardwick suffered a neck injury in the first game of the season and was contemplating retirement before the 2014 season began. The 33-year-old made 136 starts in his career.
"I got a fast track to life on a professional and personal development course," Hardwick said. "I feel like I have the wisdom of a 60-year-old in a 33-year-old's body, and I'm so thankful for that. Everything is so elevated in football. The highs are so high, and the lows are so low. … It's a big soul-searching journey. I'm really thankful that I guess I found the sport, and the sport found me."