Reggie Bush has spent the entire 2017 season away from the NFL, and that may have sealed the fate of his playing days.
"I'm done," Bush said, via NFL.com. "Yeah, I'm done. I said it. It's not breaking news. I've been saying it. I said it all season long, I said, 'Listen, if I don't play this year, I'm going to retire.' Because I'm not going to spend a whole year off, come back, 33 years old, trying to get back in the league.
"Listen, once you get to a certain age as a running back, they just start to slowly weed you out."
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Bush last played for the Bills in 2016, when over 13 games he rushed for negative-3 yards on 12 carries, while adding 90 yards on seven receptions. Bush has played 11 NFL seasons, twice eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing.
Selected second overall by the Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft, Bush quickly thrived in New Orleans' Drew Brees-led offense. Though his rushing totals disappointed in a Saints uniform, his ability to stretch a defense out of the backfield made him a threat.
Bush then rushed for over 2,000 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins, before heading to Detroit. Bush's 117-yard effort in a 40-10 win vs. the Packers on Thanksgiving Day in 2013 remains the Lions' last 100-yard game from a running back.
"Listen, the Saints know I'm coming home at some point," Bush said. "I'm going to come home to retire as a Saint. But yeah, man, I'm done. For sure. I'm done."