NFL veteran QB Kerry Collins announced Thursday that he would retire from the National Football League after 16 seasons.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter first reported Collins’ intentions which did come to some surprise since it seemed as though he wanted to return to the Tennessee Titans for the 2011 season.

Collins made his NFL debut with the Carolina Panthers back in 1995 after he was taken 5th overall in the 1995 entry draft. He went on to start 13 games that year for the Panthers who finished 7-9 that season.

Collins’ second season with the Panthers was very promising after he led them to the NFC Championship game only to fall to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

Collins however did have his demons.

He had a very publicized problem with alcohol before going to the Super Bowl back in 2000 with the New York Giants. Collins will probably most be remembered for his last five seasons in Tennessee where he had an ongoing battle with Vince Young for the Titans starting QB job.

Collins finish’s his career 9th on the NFL’s list of QB’s with the most thrown and completed passes. He also made the Pro Bowl twice back in 1996 with the Panthers and in 2008 with the Titans.

Source: Twitter, ESPN.com