NFL | Titans' Benji Olson calls it a career

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Benji Olson decided to leave college a year early in 1998 because the offensive lineman wasn't sure how long his back would hold up in the NFL.

He announced his retirement Thursday having lasted 10 years with only three interior linemen playing more games than Olson in that stretch.

Not bad for a guy hoping to last maybe five seasons.

"Honestly, I was just shooting to make the team when I got here," said Olson, a product of the University of Washington and South Kitsap High. "I was just happy these guys took a chance on me, a guy who recently had back surgery.

"There were definitely issues about it. I'm just glad they took a chance on me. I'm glad I was able to deliver and put together a pretty good career," Olson said.

Only Casey Wiegmann, Alan Faneca and Chris Gray played more games between 1998 and 2007 than Olson on the inside of the offensive line.

Olson started 140 of the 152 games he played, not including nine playoff games, which ranks him fourth behind only Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews (296), Brad Hopkins (194) and Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (159) with this franchise. Nobody has started more games with Tennessee since 1999 than the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Olson.

Munchak called Olson one of the best pros he has ever been around and thanked him for making his job easier as the Titans' offensive-line coach.

"That's what he did for 10 years. He knew what to do, and he did it. ... Game after game, year after year for ... 10 years for us. For playing injured the past couple years. Guys didn't realize how bad the back pain was the past couple years. ... We truly appreciate that," Munchak said.

Coach Jeff Fisher praised Olson as the first player whose career began and ended in Tennessee. He also thanked Olson and his wife for their commitment to playing.

"We knew he was going to be there each and every week," Fisher said.

A fifth-round draft pick out of Washington in 1998, Olson moved into the right-guard spot in 1999 and missed only two games through 2006. A groin injury in 2004 ended an 85-game starting streak, and a back injury kept him out of one game in 2006.

Back problems caused Olson to miss four games last season, including the team's 17-6 playoff loss at San Diego.

Note

• LB Clark Haggans signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Haggans, an unrestricted free agent, joined the Cardinals after eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.