Vikings: Longtime LB Chad Greenway to announce retirement

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) After 11 seasons, 1,334 tackles, two Pro Bowls and an incalculable amount of work in the community, longtime Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway has decided to retire.

Greenway will hold a news conference on Tuesday to make his announcement official, the Vikings announced on Monday. The 34-year-old leaves the Vikings as the fourth-leading tackler in franchise history, no small task for a team that prides itself on defense.

The native of Mount Vernon, South Dakota was a star linebacker at Iowa before becoming the first pick made under the guidance of owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.

Greenway played in 156 games and made 144 starts after the Vikings chose him with the 17th selection in the first round of the 2006 draft. He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, but rebounded to become a team leader in the locker room and one of the most dependable players on the defense.

He was voted the team's defensive MVP three times and is tied with middle linebacker Scott Studwell for most consecutive seasons leading the team in tackles with six.

Greenway and his wife Jennifer quickly established themselves as pillars in the community, creating the Lead The Way Foundation to address education and health needs for children. Greenway won the Vikings Community Man of the Year award four times. Only Matt Birk won the honor more often in team history.

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