HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (June 2, 2006) -- Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet officially retired, ending an 11-year career in which he overcame long odds to become one of the best players in team history.

Though Chrebet said in January he quitting after repeated concussions, the team had a lavish retirement ceremony for him, complete with video highlights, framed jerseys and three-foot Chrebet bobblehead dolls. His wife, parents and sons flanked him on stage.


Wayne Chrebet started 104 of his 152 regular-season games, and all 16 as a rookie.
"I'm thankful to everybody who was with me for the ride," said the 32-year-old Chrebet, who paused several times to compose himself. "I'm just overwhelmed by the support I've received over the years and especially on days like this."

Chrebet signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra, the same place the Jets practice. Though he was undersized at 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds, he quickly became a clutch receiver.

"You can't imagine how it feels to be me right now," Chrebet said. "I always told people I believed I could do this and certainly my first day here, a 70-year-old security guard didn't let me into practice. I could either laugh it off and go on my journey or take it as a sign it wasn't going to happen. I didn't take that sign. I believed in myself."

He is second on the all-time team list with 580 receptions and third with 7,365 yards. His 41 career touchdowns rank eighth. The Jets could always go to him when they absolutely needed to convert on third down: 379 of his career receptions went for first downs.

"His story is that of a long shot, a consummate overachiever," team owner Woody Johnson said. "Wayne's trajectory of success represents everything that is great about this sport."

The numbers could have been higher, but Chrebet had a series of head injuries that plagued him the last three seasons, and sustained at least six concussions in his NFL career. He had a post-traumatic migraine early in the 2003 season and missed the final eight games that season with post-concussion syndrome.

He considered retiring, but instead came back last season. Chrebet played in all 16 games, but sustained a mild concussion in the regular-season finale against St. Louis. He came back for 2005, knowing one more hit would mean the end.

It happened against the Chargers last November on a third-down play that got the Jets a first down. He stayed down on the field for several minutes, with a scary, glazed look in his eyes.

Though it was hard to walk away, Chrebet knew he had to.

"He inspired me every day," running back Curtis Martin said. "I loved the way he played and how he never backed down from anything. He was an incredible teammate. He was a warrior, and I always felt you'd have to kill him to get the upper hand on him. If every player in the NFL had as much heart and desire as he had, football would be illegal."

Courtesy of nfl.com