Former Bears, Panthers cornerback Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman announces retirement

Former Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman announced his retirement on his Twitter account Monday evening.

A 13-year NFL veteran, Tillman spent his final season with the Panthers. He finished his career just two interceptions shy of becoming the only player in NFL history with at least 40 interceptions and 40 forced fumbles.

Known for his “Peanut Punch” that forced 44 career fumbles, Tillman posted a 3-minute video on Twitter of him knocking items out of hands of friends, family and former teammates.

At the end of the video, Tillman punches the clock, signs his time card and then hangs up his cleats.

Tillman was a second-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette. In 12 years with the Bears he went to the Pro Bowl twice and was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2013.

He tore his right triceps in consecutive seasons and did not re-sign with the Bears following the 2014 season. Panthers coach Ron Rivera, in need of a veteran cornerback and Tillman’s former defensive coordinator in Chicago, brought Tillman to Charlotte on a one-year deal.

He played and started in 12 games, and he played through a partially torn knee before he tore his ACL in the regular season finale.

Tillman told reporters earlier this summer that he’d only play for the Panthers, but Carolina appears committed to its youth movement at the cornerback position after drafting three corners in the first five rounds of this year’s draft.

Loquacious and an outgoing personality, Tillman could have a post-playing career as a TV analyst should he choose it.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Former Bears, Panthers cornerback Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman announces retirement."