Former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL linebacker Pat Angerer announced his retirement from football Tuesday. Angerer released a statement on Twitter, ending his four-year career in the NFL.

“I want to walk away while I’m still able to give my wife and kids the man they deserve. I have given this sport all I got. It wouldn’t be fair to the game, the team, my family, and my name to continue along this path any longer. It’s time to get healthy,” Angerer wrote via Twitter. “I’ve learned so much from so many great men along the way. I’m proud I was able to get a degree from a prestigious college and make a living playing a kids’ game. I had a lot of fun, and I’ve been extremely fortunate. I’m excited about whatever the future entails. Thank you all for having my back.”

The Indianapolis Colts drafted Angerer in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. In his first two seasons, Angerer started 27 games and played in all 32 games for the Colts. However, after a multitude of injuries in his last two seasons, Angerer decided that his body had been through enough.

At Iowa, Angerer was named first-team All-Big Ten his senior season, a season in which he totaled 145 tackles. In his career at Iowa, he racked up 258 tackles, 11 sacks, and 6 interceptions.

“Just saw that this morning,” Hawkeye head football coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday. “Talk about great guys and great football players … I just feel badly he couldn’t stay healthy as a pro, because he is a tremendous football player.”

— by Jacob Sheyko