The tight end announced his retirement during FOX’s pregame show ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship between the Buccaneers and Packers. Olsen will join the network full-time in his post-playing career.
Olsen ends his football career ranked fifth in NFL history for receiving yards (8,683) and receptions (742) among tight ends in the Super Bowl era. His 60 touchdowns rank eighth among players at the position.
Originally drafted by Chicago in 2007, Olsen was traded to the Panthers in 2011. He went on to play nine seasons in Carolina, earning three Pro Bowl nods and two AP All-Pro Second Team designations.
Olsen is Carolina’s all-time leader in receiving yards (6,463), receptions (524) and 100-yard receiving games (10) by a tight end. He finished second behind Wesley Walls (44) in receiving touchdowns with 39 as a Panther.
From 2014-16, Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Along with his on-field production, Olsen made an immense impact in the Charlotte community through the Greg Olsen Foundation, providing resources to families affected by cancer and cardiovascular diseases. He was a two-time finalist for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in part from his work with the HEARTest Yard program with the Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital, raising money and provide programmatic support for children with congenital heart diseases.