Faulk announces retirement from Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WHDH) -- Kevin Faulk announced his retirement after 13 seasons with the New England Patriots.

Tears rolled down Faulk’s face as he made the formal announcement on Tuesday.

Tom Brady called Faulk one of the greatest teammates he’s ever had. Robert Kraft joked that he never thought a little guy like Faulk would last 13 seasons. Faulk is now calling it quits as the littlest and maybe toughest running back to wear a Patriots uniform.

“I’m still going to be mourning this because I can’t believe this is happening,” said Faulk. “I never thought I would be saying that I was retiring from football.”

Faulk spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, who drafted him in the second round out of LSU in 1999. Primarily a third-down back, he is the Patriots’ leader with 12,349 all-purpose yards, 5,041 return yards and 4,098 kick return yards.

“Kevin was just so adept at figuring out his role, doing it the very best that he could. He was the ultimate team player, hardest worker, always well prepared. I can’t remember asking a question in a team meeting that he didn’t have the right answer to,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

In his 13 seasons, he rushed for 3,607 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 431 passes for 3,701 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Faulk appeared in nine games in the past two season, wasn’t active for the Super Bowl in February and hasn’t’ been with the team since. He missed all but two games in 2010 with a knee injury and began the 2011 season on the physically unable to perform list, before playing in seven games.

During the press conference Faulk held up his three Super Bowl rings and said that he may be leaving the game of football, but he’s leaving with a lot more jewelry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.