Rashaad Penny wasn’t the only familiar face to hang up his cleats on Tuesday.
Former Carolina Panthers linebacker A.J. Klein has announced his retirement from the NFL. The 33-year-old delivered the news in the following Instagram post this afternoon:
A two-time First-team All-Big 12 defender and the 2011 Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year, Klein was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Panthers. The Iowa State University standout played his first four pro seasons in Carolina—where he amassed 146 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception through the 2016 campaign.
After hitting free agency for the first time in his career, Klein then went on to sign a three-year, $15 million deal with the New Orleans Saints in 2017. He started in 42 of his 43 games for the Panthers’ NFC South rivals over those three seasons—totaling 193 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Klein also picked up stops with the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.
