Chicago Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced his retirement Friday.
Mannelly spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the Bears.
No player played for the team longer than Mannelly. He holds all-time team records with 245 games played and seasons played. During that span, he was a part of four division titles (2001, 2005, 2006, 2010), an NFC championship (2006) and played seven playoff games. He is tied for 43rd all-time in the NFL with 245 games played.
“It’s difficult to talk about Patrick as a player in the past tense,” team chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement. “He played more seasons than any other Bear. He played in more games than any other Bear. And every season, every game, he was a pro’s pro. He was a captain, someone his teammates looked up to and sought guidance, direction and inspiration, and he provided it.
“Our family is very grateful for all he has done. Not just for the way he’s played on the field, but the way he has carried himself off the field. He’s the epitome of what a Chicago Bear is all about. We’ll miss having him in uniform and wish him the best.”
The Bears selected Mannelly in the in the sixth round of the 1998 draft out of Duke and he took over as long snapper his rookie season. He made 2,282 long-snap attempts during his NFL career. He helped the Bears set NFL records with 920 consecutive unblocked punts and 180 games without a blocked punt.
Mannelly had 81 career special teams tackles, which is third on the team since 1995 when the statistic was first officially recorded.
“Although I have deep respect for Pat’s decision, I’m saddened by it because we are going to lose an extremely high-level leader who had an impact on our team,” general manager Phil Emery said in a statement.
“Not only from his excellent performance on the field over a very long, sustained and historical amount of time, but in all areas of our team. It starts with his leadership in the locker room and him reaching out to other players who need help, to all the work he has done in the community, and the way he carried the Chicago Bears mantle. Any time he was in the public and represented the Chicago Bears, he did it at the highest level possible. We are losing a great person and a great player, one who will always remain a Bear in our hearts.”
In 12 of his 16 seasons, Mannelly played all 16 games. He also played at least 14 games in 15 of those seasons. He missed only 11 games during his NFL career.
Mannelly was voted by coaches and teammates as special teams captain each year since 2008. He was also named the team’s 2013 Ed Block Courage Award recipient by his teammates.