Former Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin appeared to announce his retirement Sunday night in a series of emotional tweets.
In what Baldwin called a letter to his younger self, he tweeted advice to his younger self and finished hinting at his retirement from the NFL.
"I've always wanted to write a letter to my younger self. I never knew how or when I would write it but it seems very appropriate right about now.." Baldwin's first tweet started.
The Seahawks terminated Baldwin's contract last week when the wide receiver failed his physical.
Baldwin battled numerous injuries last season, including a knee injury during the preseason and a second injury to his other knee during the first game of the season. In April, Schneider said he was considering retirement after undergoing multiple surgeries in the off-season.
"Dear Doug" begins the series of tweets filled with emotional moments from Baldwin's childhood and years on the team - as well as pictures that serve as a scrapbook of his memories.
Baldwin speaks of his dad and the importance of cherishing time spent together; he speaks of the pain in overcoming tough obstacles and the lessons learned along the way; he tells himself about the struggles that school will provide and the desire to give up football.
"Mom, of course, won't let you. Make sure you thank her for that later," he tweeted.
When Baldwin gets to his years on the Seahawks, he thanks the friends made along the way.
"But when the journey finally comes to the end, you will reflect on what that little boy caught between Gulf Breeze and Pensacola really wanted: to be seen and to be loved," he followed up.
Baldwin's last tweet, sent eight minutes after the first, may have said the most about his future - a peace sign emoji and a gif from Game of Thrones with the caption, "My watch has ended."
An eight-year NFL veteran, Baldwin is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has twice topped 1,000 yards receiving. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches in 2015 and a year later had a career-high 94 catches. Baldwin has started 76 of the past 77 games for the Seahawks dating to 2014 and has been the most trusted pass catcher for quarterback Russell Wilson during their time together.