Ravens LB Orr announces retirement ... again

Aug 19, 2017 - 6:14 AM Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr announced his retirement from the NFL due to a congenital spine condition.

Orr went in-depth with his explanation for his decision on The Players' Tribune, just two months after he ended his initial retirement in January.

"Today, I'm officially retiring from professional football ... again," the 25-year-old Orr wrote. "And I'm even more at peace this time around because the teams have spoken. If there was any way I could come back, I would."

Orr wanted to rejoin the Ravens, but was told by general manager Ozzie Newsome that "he would need to pass a physical."

"So the Ravens flew me up to Baltimore for a workout and a physical," Orr wrote. "But at the end of the day, their doctors stood by their initial decision and said they couldn't clear me to play -- not with my spinal condition. They said it was too big a risk, both for them and for me."

Orr wrote that he visited five additional teams and interviewed "with another 11 over the phone" since becoming an unrestricted free agent.

"I wanted to end my career as a Raven. And even though it didn't happen the way I envisioned, I've done that," Orr wrote.

Orr was initially placed on injured reserve after suffering a herniated disk Christmas day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the career-ending congenital condition was not diagnosed until he underwent a physical after the season.

Orr was born with his C1 vertebra not fully formed -- an issue found in less than 1 percent of the population. The condition however, doesn't show up with a regular X-ray or MRI.

An after-season CT scan finally revealed the problem. Orr previously did not have that test because there was no history of neck problems, and therefore, not necessary.

Orr evolved from an undrafted player from North Texas to a starter this season. He tied for eighth in the NFL with 132 combined tackles and earned second-team All-Pro honors.