Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith has announced his retirement, fighting back tears as he ended a 12-year National Football League career spent entirely with the Broncos.

More Stories

• Colston extends Saints contract
• More NFL news

Smith is the club's all-time leader with 849 receptions, 11,389 receiving yards and 68 touchdown catches.

"Obviously, [he is] the greatest wide receiver to ever play for the Denver Broncos," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said.

Smith missed all of last season with left hip problems. The injury and a concussion limited his production in 2006 when he caught only 52 passes and found the end zone just three times.

"Fate put me here and I'm glad," Smith said. "I gave them everything I had. I'm going to miss the locker room. If I didn't do anything else, I hope I was a great team-mate. All I ever wanted to do was win."

Smith led the NFL with 113 catches in 2001 and helped the Broncos win NFL titles in 1998 and 1999, but realised after last season that his playing days were over.

"I knew it was pretty much a 90 per cent chance [that my career was over]," he said. "But I'm happy with it. I know I'm crying, so it doesn't seem like I'm happy with it, but I am. I'm happy that I even had the opportunity."