"Several months ago, I was blindsided by an off-field injury that was beyond my control, which put my football future in jeopardy," he wrote.

David Bell, who led Warren Central High School to state championships in two sports and was an All-American wide receiver at Purdue, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.

"After consulting with medical experts and praying, I accept that continuing to play football would literally risk life and limb," Bell wrote.