Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth is leaving the NFL as a champion. 

Whitworth announced Tuesday he is retiring after a 16-year pro career that culminated with a Super Bowl championship for the Rams over his only other NFL team. 

"My chapter may have closed on the field, but my story is unfinished. Can't wait for my next one," Whitworth wrote on Instagram. "Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey." 

Whitworth turned 40 last December and made history as the oldest player to start at left tackle in the modern game. 

His career began in 2006, when he was drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals out of LSU after winning a national championship for the Tigers. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Bengals, earning three Pro Bowl selections and was named an All-Pro first-team pick in 2016. 

Whitworth signed with the Rams prior to the 2017 season and made 71 starts over the past five seasons, garnering All-Pro first-team accolades and another Pro Bowl nod during his first year with the franchise. 

Still considered one of the top left tackles in the game this past season, Whitworth was named the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year – an award given to a player for his excellence on and off the field.  

His final honour came in February, when his Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20 in the Super Bowl to win the Lombardi Trophy. 

After winning the championship, Whitworth had been expected to retire and go out on top. The Rams re-signed his backup, Joe Noteboom, on Monday to a three-year contract worth up to $47.5 million. 

Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth has revealed he received a call from Wayne Gretzky after his Super Bowl LVI win as he considers retirement.

Whitworth has been in the NFL since 2006, when he was drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

But he had to wait until this year to finally get his hands on a Super Bowl ring, beating his former team the Bengals with the Rams.

It was widely expected Whitworth would call time on his career if the Rams won the title, yet one of sport's great names has given him food for thought.

Whitworth told NFL Total Access: "You definitely think about [winning a second Super Bowl], especially with Matthew Stafford coming back and Cooper Kupp and some of the special players – Aaron Donald being the biggest one, which we'll hopefully hear soon is going to be back.

"I've already seen him in the weight room working out, so I think that's a positive sign.

"It's a special group of guys, so you wouldn't want to miss that, that's for sure.

"I'll never forget after we won the game, the 'Great One', Wayne Gretzky, called me, because I live near him. He said, 'Hey Whit, there's only one thing better than winning one, and that's winning two'. I said I can't argue with you.

"It's going to be tough. One way or another, it's going to be a tough decision. There'd be a lot of great guys I'd be missing out on."