Eric Decker announces retirement: 'It is time to hang my helmet up'

New England Patriots wide receiver Eric Decker announced his retirement after eight NFL seasons in an Instagram post Sunday.

Decker played just one preseason game for the Patriots after signing with the club partway through training camp. He was a long shot to crack the opening day roster.

The 31-year-old split his eight campaigns between the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Broncos in 2012 and 2013, and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark again as a member of the Jets in 2015.

From 2012-15, only Brandon Marshall and Dez Bryant hauled in more touchdown catches than Decker, who had 41 over that span (tied with Demaryius Thomas), according to ESPN Stats.

The Minnesota product caught two passes for 12 yards in his lone preseason appearance for the Patriots.