After a few attempts to land a spot on an NFL roster, longtime Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle made the decision to retire from the league near the end of the 2011 season.
The Arizona Cardinals had already waived him, and the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans showed no interest after his tryouts. So Croyle is moving on with life and not missing a single beat.
Croyle now works with Tuscaloosa's IngeWood Land Company. He's also pursuing an Alabama real estate license, and already a co-owner of the D1 Birmingham sports facility with Philadelphia Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
"I'm very grateful for everything football gave me," Croyle said. "I just felt it was time, and that's a mutual decision with NFL football. There's very few guys who retire on their own terms. It was a fun ride, but I'm glad to be back, glad to be doing what I'm doing."
"If somebody's looking for a hunting track, we'll try and find that for them," said Croyle, who is pursuing an Alabama real estate license. "If somebody's looking for somewhere to put some money in timber investment, we can find that as well.
"It's something I'm passionate about, something that I've always been around," added Croyle, who grew up on the 500-acre Big Oak Ranch, a home for abused or neglected children that was founded by his father and former Tide defensive end, John Croyle.
Even though Croyle was never a star by any means, these days it's good to see NFL players retire and have a really good grasp of what to do with themselves after football.
Read more about the Chiefs at Arrowhead Pride.