The San Francisco 49ers may have left the door open for a potential reunion with Elvis Dumervil, but the pass rusher appears to have closed it. Dumervil announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday morning.
On to the next chapter. Thank you for all of the support✊ pic.twitter.com/rA121JJNRf
— Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) August 30, 2018
The 49ers declined to pick up Dumervil's 2018 option. He appeared in 16 games last season while registering 13 combined tackles and a team-high 6.5 sacks after signing a two-year deal with the 49ers on June 5, 2017. He has 105.5 sacks over his 12-year NFL career, which ranks 26th all-time.
"During my time with the 49ers last season, I accomplished two career milestones that I will cherish forever," wrote Dumervil within the statement. "So I thank them for that opportunity."
Dumervil got sack number 100 with the 49ers last season by bringing down Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. He also became one of four active players to sack 50 different quarterbacks when be brought down Mitchell Trubisky in Chicago.
Dumervil has been selected to five Pro Bowls (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and a two-time first-team All-Pro (2009, 2014).
Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently said the 49ers would not hesitate to bring Dumervil back if he felt it would benefit the team.
"Elvis is a guy who I have a lot of confidence in," Shanahan said on August 19. "He did a great job for us last year. If we felt like that was the right opportunity at the end of this, then Elvis is a guy that John (Lynch) and I wouldn't hesitate to reach out to."
While he believes he can still contribute on a team, Dumervil is ready to move on to the next chapter of his life.
"My body still feels great, and I know I can still help a team win," he wrote. "I will miss being on the field, particularly on Sundays. But I also have a wife and two young children who need me and a real estate business that I can now turn my attention to full-time. Football was certainly a huge part of my life but it wasn't my entire life. I look forward to my next chapter with no regrets."