Three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair of the Baltimore Ravens has announced his retirement from the NFL following a 13-season career.

The 35-year-old McNair left the game as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent the last two years following nine stellar seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

"My career speaks for itself," McNair said at the Ravens' practice facility in Owings Mills, Maryland. "I enjoyed it, but I can look back on it and reflect back on it and I wouldn't change a thing.

"The way I played the game, the way I approached the game, the love I have for the game -- I wouldn't change that.

"I played the game with a lot of passion, I played the game with a lot of heart, and it showed over the course of my 13 years."

McNair played two seasons with the Houston Oilers before the franchise moved to Nashville and eventually became the Tennessee Titans.

The 6-foot-2 (1.88 m), 224-pound (102 kg) McNair became one of the league's best quarterbacks with the Titans, making three Pro Bowls and leading the club to the Super Bowl in 1999.

"It should be a day of celebration for Steve McNair because we now have a chance to reflect back on his career and celebrate all the great things he has accomplished," Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said.

"He was the face of this franchise for nearly 10 years. As he developed, so did the franchise... He was a tremendous leader and set a great example for all the players that played with him."

McNair led the Ravens to a 13-3 record in 2006 but injuries forced him to the sidelines for all but six games during the club's 5-11 campaign last year.

"There are not very many guys who play our sport (who) get the opportunity to walk away on their own accord and that can make that decision of, 'You know what? I can't play this game as well as I want to play, so I'm going to walk away,'" said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.

McNair leaves the game having thrown for 174 touchdowns and more than 31,000 yards.

"It's been a great ride," McNair said. "It's been a blessing for me. It's a sad day for me, a very emotional day for me.

"I'm trying to do the best I can to hold it in, but at the same time I'm opening up a lot more doors for the future I've got ahead."

Reuters