Polamalu to quit after 12 seasons

The former defensive player of the year and USC star had been limited by injuries in recent seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu , among the most revered players in franchise history, is retiring. He announced the decision Thursday in an interview with the Herald-Standard of Uniontown, Pa.

Polamalu, 33, a standout at USC, was selected in the first round of the 2003 draft, marking the first time the Steelers took a safety in the opening round. He played 12 seasons, made eight Pro Bowls, and four times was selected a first-team All-Pro. The Steelers moved him all around the defense, and he helped redefine the position.

The Steelers have wanted to get younger on defense, had talked to him about retiring, and reportedly were considering releasing him. Polamalu told the Herald-Standard that for most of his career, he would have gone to great lengths to keep playing.

Polamalu’s uncle, Kennedy Polamalu , who coaches running backs at UCLA, said he has had several phone conversations with his nephew in recent weeks about the decision.

“It was an emotional thing,” the elder Polamalu told The Times. “We never planned for the way he played the game with such love and spirit, and that it would go 12 years. He wasn’t a highly recruited kid, so we went back through his journey and reminisced about how when he got into college no one knew who he was.”

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is facing a three-game suspension following his arrest on drunk-driving and marijuana charges last August. A person with direct knowledge of the suspension told the Associated Press that Bell is expected to appeal the suspension. . . . The Indianapolis Colts will use the team’s fifth-year option to keep quarterback Andrew Luck through at least 2016.