The Cardinals will need a new long snapper for the 2016 season.
Mike Leach has held the job since 2009, but he announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. In a letter posted to Twitter, Leach said he is “making that choice before waning abilities -- or worse, an injury -- make it for me.”
Leach started his NFL career with the Titans in 2000 and moved to the Broncos in 2002. He played the final eight games for the Broncos that season, kicking off a string that saw him play in 216 consecutive regular season games through the end of the 2015 season. That streak ranked second to Texans punter Shane Lechler and Leach’s retirement moves Cowboys tight end Jason Witten to the No. 2 spot behind Lechler.
Leach also ended the season ranked seventh among active players and tied for 75th among all players with 235 total games played in the NFL.
