Last dance jterranova@nypost.com

Cruzhangs up his salsa shoes for job with ESPN

Victor Cruz announced his retirement and his next career on Tuesday.

The former Giants receiver will go to ESPN as an NFL analyst starting Wednesday. Cruz will join the large group of ex-NFLers when he appears on “Get Up!” and “SportsCenter.” He will be a regular contributor to those shows as well as “NFL Live.”

“I’m excited to close that chapter and open a new one in the media world at ESPN,” Cruz, 31, said in a video for The Uninterrupted. “I’m excited for the future and for you all to be a part of this with me.”

Cruz went from undrafted rookie out of UMass in 2010 to star Giants receiver, a key part of their Super Bowl XLVI-winning team. Cruz’s rise to stardom stopped suddenly in 2014, when he tore his patellar tendon in a game against the Eagles. He would return in 2016, but would never get back to the salsadancing standard he had set.

“What a great Giant. I remember playing against him when I was in Philly and we were certainly well aware of the impact he could have on a ball game,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said after practice Tuesday. “I had a chance to meet him and be around him, and he certainly doesn’t need an invite from me, but much like all the ex-Giants, I look forward to seeing him at practice any time he wants to be here. So, congratulations to him.”

Cruz was released by the Giants in February 2017 and did not make the Bears roster the following season after signing with Chicago.

“My journey has been up and down and there’s definitely been some rough patches,” Cruz said.

Cruz finished his five-year Giants career with 303 catches, 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns.

“A terrific career and a great Giant,” Eli Manning said of Cruz, who caught the fourth-most of Manning’s touchdowns among Giants receivers, trailing Odell Beckham Jr., Plaxico Burress and Hakeem Nicks. “He came on and really just had a great feel for the offense, for his routes in that slot, and he was tough to cover. … Tremendous player, and a great guy.”

Manning joked that Cruz “has gone to the dark side” by joining the media, where the receiver could end up in a position where he will be critical of his longtime quarterback.

“I think he’ll be all right to me,” Manning said with a smile. “I hope, I hope.”

Getty Images (2) METLIFE TO MMEDIA: Former Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who became a fan favorite as an undrafted rookie out of UMass, announced Tuesday he was retiring and joining ESPN as an NFL analyst.