Daunte Culpepper Retires

- Retired September 4, 2008ESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- Made announcement via e-mail to NFL.comESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- Age 31 at the time of retirementESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- Recovered from a career threatening injury in 2005ESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- 11th pick in the 1999 NFL DraftESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- Culpepper doesn't have an agent and represents himself in negotiationsESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
- Culpepper was offered back-up jobs with Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh SteelersESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31

On October 23, 2008, Daunte Culpepper announced he was re-considering his retirement and would entertain offers to return to the National Football League. He has initiated negotiations with the Detroit Lions after visiting their morning workout on October 28 and signed a two-year contract with the team on November 1, 2008.ESPN.com: Culpepper, Lions agree to two-year deal
Original Lack of Interest

Culpepper, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, announced on September 4, 2008 that he was retiring from the NFL. Culpepper was 31 at the time of the announcement. He claimed that one of the reasons for his decision to retire was the lack of interest by teams in the league for his services. Culpepper retired after playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. He finished his career with 142 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 89.9.ESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
Reconsidering Retirement

"Now that there are some real opportunities that match my desire to play, I will choose the one that is the best fit for both the team and me so that I can continue my NFL career. For the second half of this season, I hope to play a role in helping a team win some games."—Daunte CulpepperESPN.com: Culpepper reconsiders retirement
Daunte Culpepper Retirement Quotes
"I have been strongly encouraged from family, friends and league personnel to continue to be patient and wait for an inevitable injury to one of the starting quarterbacks in the league. I would rather shut the door to such 'opportunity' than continue to wait for one of my fellow quarterbacks to suffer a serious injury. Since I was not given a fair chance to come in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other arenas of life."ESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31
"I want to thank my family and my fans for their unwavering belief in me as a person and a player. I embraced both the peaks and the valleys of the game and my career. I am a better person today as a direct result of the experience of playing in the NFL."ESPN.com: Culpepper retires at age 31