Friend and former teammate, James Jones, had it first announcing Jordy Nelson will retire from the NFL after a remarkable career. Nelson, 33, played 11 seasons 10 as a Green Bay Packer and one forgettable one as an Oakland Raider. He finished as the fifth all-time leading receiver in Packers history with 7,848 yards.

Nelson and Aaron Rodgers built quite the connection on the field that seemed to really take off during Super Bowl XLV. Nelson hauled in nine catches for 140 yards which were both career highs at the time.

Nelson and Rodgers never looked back as their chemistry only grew on and off the field. In 2014, Nelson had one of the greatest single seasons in franchise history racking up 1,519 yards on 98 receptions and 13 touchdowns. Really, what allowed Nelson to stand apart was his ability to get into the end zone as he finished second all-time in team history with 69 career touchdowns.

Looking back, Nelson had so many great moments in Green Bay that it’s pretty much impossible to pick one. Maybe it’s not a moment but watching Nelson bounce back in 2016 after tearing his ACL to win Comeback Player of the Year was a true testament to how hard of a worker he truly was.

He was beloved by his teammates and fans for being a consummate professional and upholding what it means to a be Packer. There was only respect for No. 87 and the way he approached his craft.

We’ll miss the ball spinning in the end zone, the back shoulder throws down the sideline, and the Lambeau leaps but those memories are now etched into Packers history.

There’s no easy way to end this but to say thank you, Jordy. You will be greatly missed.

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Brandon Carwile was a Cheesehead at birth. His dad grew up attending games at Lambeau and passed on the legacy. He has covered the Packers for over five years and currently works with packerstalk.com. Find him on twitter at @PackerScribe.

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