Lions' fan favorite retires from NFL after 8-season career

Dan Skipper didn't look like he'd stick around the NFL.

He played just one game across his first two seasons as an undrafted player out of Arkansas.

But the 6-foot-9 offensive lineman didn't go away, and he ended up carving out a career as a fan favorite for the Detroit Lions (that also included a three-game stint with the Houston Texans).

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That career has come to an end. Skipper announced his retirement on Thursday.

Lions OT Dan Skipper announced that is retiring from playing in the NFL. A coaching career could await. pic.twitter.com/pGW0MFCUOL

Skipper had already acknowledged this was a possibility. He was worried about the back imaging he was going to undergo once the season was over.

"This might be the last one," Skipper told reporters after what did indeed turn out to be his final game in Week 18.

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Skipper ends up with a mark of 68 games played for the Lions.

The 6-foot-9 Skipper also caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown in his career, and he gained notoriety when he had a key touchdown called back for a flag that said he hadn't reported as eligible.

Detroit will have big shoes to fill, literally.

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