Football star Arian Foster announced his retirement from the Miami Dolphins midway through his eighth season.
Foster left the sport due to soft tissue injuries and retired after recovery.
He released a letter on his decision to retire on an entertainment website Uninterrupted and wrote: “There comes a time in every athlete’s career when their ambition and their body are no longer on the same page. I’ve reached that point.”
“This game has been my everything to me, my therapy, my joy, my solace and my enemy,” he said in the piece. “I’ve learned to love every facet of this game, to the peak of accomplishment to the gutter of criticism. And it all makes the ride worthwhile. I’ve been fortunate enough to play many successful years in this league.”
According to the National Football League, Foster led the NFL in rushing yardage in 2010 and also led the NFL twice in rushing touchdowns.
The 30-year old runningback is in his first season in Miami, followed by seven previous seasons with Houston Texans.
Foster had been trying to recover and work his way back into the Dolphins lineup after a hamstring injury week two game with the Patriots.
“This is a beautifully violent game and the same reason I loved is the same reason I have to walk away,” Foster wrote in the aforementioned article.
Injuries became his biggest enemy.
According to ESPN, Foster strained his hamstring twice during the season with the Houston Texans in 2011, missing three games.
He returned in 2012 to play all 16, but missed eight games in 2013 because of a back injury that led to surgery.
In 2015, Foster injured his Achilles tendon and was placed on an injury reserve.
He ending his career with the Houston Texans’ two days later.
“My father always said, ‘You’ll know when it’s time to walk away,’” Foster also wrote in his letter. “It has never been more clear than right now.”
Foster joined the Miami Dolphins this year and agreed to sign a one-year contract and told NFL reporters: “I know that this league knows that when I’m on the field, I’m one of the most productive doing it.”
His eight-year career comes to an end after recovery from another lower body injury.
He also ends his career being known as Houston’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns according to NFL.
Foster averaged more than 1,400 yards a season from 2010 to 2012.
Injuries has been his biggest enemy during his career, but he’s still known as one of the most known NFL running back players.
Foster also was involved in protests such as kneeling during the National Anthem before a game against the Seattle Seahawks this season and told reporters: “It’s not about the symbology that people are mad about. It’s about the message, and it’s about who’s saying it. They say it’s not the time to do this, well, when is the time?”