Giants linebacker and defensive captain Jon Beason announced his retirement Wednesday after a nine-year career that saw him make three Pro Bowls, but struggle to stay on the field due to injury in his final seasons.
"I always tried to give my all and be competitive," Beason said in comments released by the team. "I wanted to go out and continue to play at a high level, giving my all. I was able to do that."
Beason, 31, was not going to return for a fourth season with the Giants in 2016. The team would have released him had he not retired. Beason hoped to continue playing, but doctors told him it was best he retire due to a knee injury he was set to have surgery for this week.
Beason appeared in only five games last season for the Giants. He battled with the knee injury early in the season, then went on injured reserve in November after being listed with an ankle injury. Beason, who the Giants acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers in 2013, only played more than five games once in his last four seasons. He missed 51 games in total over the last five seasons.
"I feel like I let people down in terms of my availability to play on Sundays," Beason said. "It was extremely difficult and unfortunately consistent the latter part of my career. I know that those things were out of my control, and there wasn't one single thing I could have done more with the cards I was dealt to ensure that I was available more and healthy, and able to go out and help my team compete."
With Beason's retirement, the Giants will save $5.1 million in cap space this season. Beason's retirement also indicates the Giants will be in the market for a middle linebacker this offseason.
The Giants have reserve Uani 'Unga under contract, but he would not figure to be the long-term starter at the position. Veteran Jasper Brinkley played well in the second half of the season in Beason's place, but he is an unrestricted free agent. The Giants could look to re-sign him, but that would likely be a move to add depth to the linebacking corps, rather than to make him the full-time starter.
Beason was selected by the Panthers with the No. 25-overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Miami. He spent his first six-plus seasons in Carolina before being traded to the Giants in October of 2013, where he made an immediate impact, playing in 12 games and helping the Giants rally to a 7-9 finish after an 0-6 start.
But after signing a three-year deal with the Giants prior to the 2014 season, Beason only appeared in nine more games for the franchise. Beason finished his career with 829 tackles (572 solo), 10 interceptions and four sacks in 93 games, 90 of which he started.
Beason's retirement came on a day of significant change for the Giants, who also cut veteran offensive lineman Will Beatty and Geoff Schwartz.
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