Longtime K Longwell announces retirement

Green Bay, WI – Kicker Ryan Longwell officially retired from the NFL on Monday after 16 seasons, doing so upon signing a one-day contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Longwell began his career with Green Bay in 1997, making the team as an undrafted free agent, and spent nine seasons with the Packers before signing with NFC North rival Minnesota prior to the 2006 campaign. The University of California product owns Green Bay franchise records for career scoring (1,054 points), field goals made (226), field goal percentage (81.6) and extra points (376), while his eight straight seasons of 100 or more points from 1997-2204 is also a club best.

The 38-year-old was with the Vikings for six seasons before being released in May of 2012, shortly after Minnesota drafted rookie standout Blair Walsh in the sixth round of that year's draft. Longwell briefly signed with the Seattle Seahawks in January as insurance for the injured Steven Hauschka, hitting on all four of his PAT attempts in that team's loss at Atlanta in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Longwell finishes his career 13th on the NFL's scoring list with 1,687 points, the most ever by a player who never made a Pro Bowl. He connected on 361- of-434 field-goal tries (83.2 percent) and 604-of-613 extra-point attempts.