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Former Lions LB Stephen Tulloch will retire after 11 seasons

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Stephen Tulloch

Allen Park – Stephen Tulloch is returning to Detroit, the place of his greatest NFL success, to announce his retirement after 11 NFL seasons.

The veteran linebacker played for the Lions from 2011-15, recording more than 100 tackles in four of those seasons.

He also made a significant impact in the community, donating time and raising thousands of dollars for underprivileged youth through his foundation. For his charitable works, he was named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee four consecutive years.

A fourth-round draft pick for the Tennessee Titans in 2006, Tulloch came to Detroit as a free agent in 2011, reuniting with his former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Tulloch racked up 358 tackles in his first three seasons with the team, but in the third game of his fourth year with the franchise, he suffered a torn ACL celebrating a sack against the Green Bay Packers.

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Tulloch returned to the field to start the 2015 season, but he was no longer playing every snap as he had before the injury. With one year remaining on his contract, he was released in the offseason, ultimately landing in Philadelphia, where Schwartz was defensive coordinator.

Tulloch will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Lions’ practice facility. He finishes his career with 949 tackles, 14.5 sacks and five interceptions.