Englewood, Colorado. – Waiting for a TV analyst job and wanting to move to the next stage of his life, a wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders35, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.

Sanders, who spent most of six of his 12 seasons in the NFL in Denver, was in the Broncos complex with his family to advertise. He finished his career with 13 starts with the Buffalo Bills last season.

A third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 draft, Sanders finished his career with 704 receptions, 9,245 yards and 51 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowl pick, played in three Super Bowls and was part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 winning team.

“I’m proud to stand here and tell you… I chased this dream and it was a journey from hell,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he had “two teams in contact” to play this season, but ultimately said his long-term health considerations, as well as the death of long-time friend Demarius Thomas last December, were factored into his decision. Sanders said it wasn’t. He is ready to make an official announcement on Wednesday about his immediate future but added that he has agreed a deal to be a TV analyst.

“Football is hard on the body, and I’ve lost a close friend [in Thomas]Sanders said. “…I’ve had a good career. I’ve been to three Super Bowls. For me, what else do I have to prove?”

All three seasons of the 1,000-yard Sanders came with the Broncos, two with Peyton Manning in the middle. Sanders was part of the 2014 Broncos’ free agency party that also included linebacker DeMarcus Ware, Cornerback Aqib Talib and safety TJ Ward.

At the time, Denver was dubbed a “broad reception paradise” due to Manning’s arrival in 2012. On Wednesday, Sanders recounted how close he came to signing with the Kansas City Chiefs rather than Denver in 2014 — he was in the Chiefs compound when John Elway, the manager, called The year for the Broncos at the time – and did not play with Manning.

“I wanted to sign for three years [in Kansas City] ‘They wanted me to sign four,’ Sanders said. “…I got a call, at the facility, I can go to Denver… and I remember saying that [the Chiefs] I kind of want to go back to my hotel and find out the situation… I was just trying to get out there so I could celebrate that I was about to go play Peyton. ”

The Broncos replaced Sanders with the San Francisco 49ers after seven games in the 2019 season, the same year he described the Manning Broncos’ post-struggle as “living in a world full of trouble.” Sanders then played 2020 with the New Orleans Saints before 42 receptions for 626 yards and four touchdowns for last season’s bills.