JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars' most-tenured player has called it a career.
Brandon Linder, the Jaguars' starting center since 2014, officially announced his retirement Monday morning. The team announced the retirement Monday.
Linder served a team captain for the past five seasons.
Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke in a statement congratulated Linder and his family congratulations "on a fantastic NFL career."
"Brandon spent the entirety of his career here in Jacksonville and earned the respect of his teammates, the fans and everyone within the Jaguars organization," Baalke said. "He became the first player in franchise history to earn the distinction of a gold jersey patch representative of being a five-time captain.
"Off the field, he represented the team with pride as an ambassador in the community. For everything he's contributed both on and off the field, we thank him and wish him and his family the best in retirement."
Linder, a third-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft, started 88 games in eight seasons with the Jaguars – starting every game of his career in which he was played. He played nine games each of the last two seasons, starting 88 of 129 possible games.
"To the city of Jacksonville: Eight years ago, you welcomed me like a family member and have continued to support me unconditionally," Linder said in a statement. "I have grown to love this city, where I have put down roots with my family, made lifelong friends, and cultivated my passion for the outdoors. After much reflection, I have realized that the man I currently aspire to be is no longer aligning with the person I must become to play this game. It is at this time that I have decided to close this chapter of my life and retire from the NFL.
"I started playing football when I was seven and I have always played with my whole heart for the opportunity to win. I have spent most of my life sacrificing my body, mind, and time in order to fulfill my dreams. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that were presented to me and all the doors that have opened because of football. I have learned valuable life lessons and have had many unforgettable experiences that I will cherish forever. I am thankful to my teammates, coaches, family, and friends for helping me grow in the sport and support me in becoming a master at my craft.
"To my teammates, I want to thank you for sacrificing yourselves entirely to the sport. The experiences that we have gone through together is why the brotherhood that we have created is so special. I will miss that the most. I am grateful to be able to fulfill my goal of retiring a lifetime Jaguar. Jacksonville will remain my home.
"I am excited to chase new dreams and I'm looking forward to all of the great things to come in the future."
Check out a selection of photos from Brandon Linder's NFL career in honor of the Jaguars offensive lineman's retirement.
Jacksonville Jaguar guard Brandon Linder (65) walks onto the field for NFL football minicamp practice on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars interim head coach Doug Marrone, center, watches as players, including center Brandon Linder (65) warm up before an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, left, looks for a receiver as he gets a block from guard Brandon Linder (65) against Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor (98) during the first half an NFL preseason football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder (65) waits for a play at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder warms up prior to an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder (65) warms up before the first half of a preseason NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) and center Tyler Shatley (69) kneel during warmups before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder (65) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder during practice at NFL football training camp, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Linder (65) runs onto the field before the first half of an NFL preseason football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15), right, celebrates with Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, left, jokes with guard Brandon Linder (65) during warm ups before an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) prepares for the snap during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 24th, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) blocks in front of Tennessee Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Titans won 9-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Tyler Shatley (69) and center Brandon Linder talk before the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) performs a drill during an NFL football workout, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage across from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) argues with umpire Barry Anderson after being called for a penalty during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) sets up for a play at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) sets up for a play at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Linder, right, blocks Miami Dolphins defensive end Tank Carradine (95) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) questions a ruling by umpire Barry Anderson (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Social Justice message "It Takes All of Us" on the helmet of Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) as he runs onto the field for an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars during an OTA practice session Thursday, June 3, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fl. (Rick Wilson Photography)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) and guard A.J. Cann (60) during an OTA practice session Tuesday, June 8, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fl. (Rick Wilson Photography)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Arizona Cardinals for Week 3 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-31.
Photo by James Gilbert / Jacksonville Jaguars JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Arizona Cardinals for Week 3 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-31.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Arizona Cardinals for Week 3 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-31.
Matt Stamey/Jacksonville Jaguars JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
Photo by James Gilbert / Jacksonville Jaguars JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - November 28, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Atlanta Falcons for Week 12 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 14-21.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 11, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Houston, TX for Week 1 at NRG Stadium.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - November 28, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Atlanta Falcons for Week 12 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 14-21.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Denver Broncos for Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 13-23.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - December 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the New York Jets for Week 16 at MetLife Stadium. The Jaguars lost the game, 21-26.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - December 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans for Week 15 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 16-30.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
Photo by James Gilbert / Jacksonville Jaguars JACKSONVILLE, FL - October 10, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans for Week 5 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 19-37.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Denver Broncos for Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 13-23.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - December 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the New York Jets for Week 16 at MetLife Stadium. The Jaguars lost the game, 21-26.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - December 26, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the New York Jets for Week 16 at MetLife Stadium. The Jaguars lost the game, 21-26.
Photo by James Gilbert / Jacksonville Jaguars JACKSONVILLE, FL - September 19, 2021 - The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Denver Broncos for Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars lost the game, 13-23.
