Report: Steelers hoping Troy Polamalu retires this offseason

With some difficult roster decisions ahead, it appears that Troy Polamalu's highly successful Pittsburgh Steelers career is coming to an end.

As Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette reported Tuesday, the Steelers are hoping for the 33-year-old to retire and save them the difficult decision of having to cut a longtime fan favorite.

Though Polamalu's future plans are unclear, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport added Wednesday that the 33-year-old isn't expected to return in 2015 either way.

If this offseason does indeed mark the end of Polamalu's time in Pittsburgh, he'll certainly be remembered as an all-time Steelers great.

After joining the team as a first-round selection in the 2003 draft, Polamalu went on to tally 581 tackles and 32 interceptions over the next 12 seasons, helping the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles in that span.

With eight Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pros and a Defensive Player of the Year award to his name, Polamalu could soon join an ever-growing group of Steelers players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.