GREEN BAY – Former Packers safety Morgan Burnett, who played the first eight of his 10 NFL seasons in Green Bay, announced his retirement Monday.
Burnett posted a farewell message on his Instagram account, expressing gratitude to family, friends, teammates and several others.
A third-round draft pick by the Packers in 2010 out of Georgia Tech, Burnett was a rookie on the Super Bowl XLV championship team, though he was on injured reserve during the title run after a knee injury ended his rookie season after just four games.
He resumed his starting role in 2011 and held it for seven more seasons, starting all 113 games he played in for the Packers, including postseason.
Check out photos of recently retired Green Bay Packers S Morgan Burnett.
Considered a defensive leader in both the huddle and the locker room, Burnett led the team in total tackles twice, in 2014 (with 125) and 2016 (with 92) and had nine career interceptions, plus two more in the playoffs. His lone NFL touchdown came on a fumble recovery against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2013.
Burnett left the Packers after the 2017 season, playing in 2018 with the Steelers and then in 2019 with the Browns. He did not play in the NFL in 2020, when he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
"We want to congratulate Morgan on a wonderful career and thank him for his contributions to the Packers," said General Manager Brian Gutekunst. "He was a dedicated, reliable player that always put the team first. He had a quiet, professional nature and was a respected leader and a great teammate. We wish him, his wife, Nicolette, and their family all the best in the years ahead."