A.J. Hawk retires as a Packer

A.J. Hawk is going out in the green and gold.

The veteran linebacker, who announced plans for retirement earlier this offseason, is making the move official as a member of the Green Bay Packers, the team announced Tuesday.

"The first thing that needs to be said about A.J. Hawk is that he is a good man," general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement. "He was a terrific teammate and a true professional during his career, and we were lucky to have him. A.J. will always be a Packer. We wish the best to him and the entire Hawk family, and thank them for all that they gave to the team and the city of Green Bay."

Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 draft, spent the first nine seasons of his career in Green Bay.

The former Ohio State standout was a reliable presence in the middle of the defense over that stretch, starting 147-of-159 appearances while racking up a franchise-record 1,118 tackles.

Hawk's lengthy stay with the Packers came to an end when he was released following the 2014 season. He started 11 games for the Cincinnati Bengals the following year, and suited up once for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016.