Jake Locker announces retirement at 26

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Jake Locker is calling it a career.

The quarterback is set to retire after only four years with the Tennessee Titans, releasing a brief statement on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports. 

I am retiring from football after much reflection and discussion with my family. I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the NFL and for the lifelong relationships I developed because of that experience. Football has always played a pivotal role in my life and I love the game, but I no longer have the burning desire necessary to play the game for a living; to continue to do so would be unfair to the next organization with whom I would eventually sign. I realize this decision is surprising to many, but I know in my heart that it is the right decision and I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other interests.

Locker battled frequent injuries in his brief career and he never started more than 11 games in a season with the Titans. 

The Titans were clearly going in a different direction behind center and Zach Mettenberger did enough last season to make Tennessee comfortable with letting Locker go. 

Still only 26, Locker certainly would have been signed by another quarterback-needy team in free agency and could have made plenty of money as a backup.