Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk (77) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Center Matt Birk helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory this past season, his first. And like his teammate Ray Lewis, Birk is going to ride off into the sunset having won his last game and finally getting that elusive Super Bowl Ring.

ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter tweeted: “Ravens C Matt Birk will announce his retirement today, the Baltimore Sun reports. Birk is poised to succeed off field as he did on it.”

Matt Birk was drafted out of Harvard in the 6th round of the 1998 draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He played the first 11 of his 15 NFL seasons in Minnesota before coming to Baltimore.

Birk’s current deal has him signed through the 2015 season but retirement was on his mind after losing in the AFC Championship game a season ago. He came back for one more chance to win a ring and finally won one.

He would’ve made $2.75 million this season, not a large number but nevertheless cap relief for the Baltimore Ravens who are trying to resign Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco. That brings the total for the Ravens to $10 million under the cap, still not enough to ink the quarterback.

Gino Gradkowski, yes that other guys brother, is listed as the back up center for the Baltimore Ravens. They could try to go out and find a veteran to fill the void Birk will create by his retirement.

September 11, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk (77) during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M

Amid speculation that he was to retire, Baltimore Ravens center has chosen to return to the team on a new three year deal.

Birk is widely acknowledged as one of the best centers the NFL has produced in the past decade and was given the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 2011 for his tireless work both on and off the field.

This hire is an important one for the Ravens after losing guard Ben Grubbs to the New Orleans Saints earlier this week.

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“No, I haven’t made that decision yet and I don’t know Charley Casserly,” Birk said after the Ravens victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.  “I don’t even know who he is, I don’t know him, he didn’t talk to me.”

There is a chance that the 14-year veteran could call it quits at the end of the season if the Ravens successfully complete a Super Bowl run, but if the Ravens are eliminated next week to the New England Patriots, Birk sounds like a man who is ready to continue playing.

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Birk has been known throughout his career for being an outstanding man on and off the field. The Harvard graduate was named to six Pro Bowl throughout his career and was also named the Minnesota Vikings Man of the Year six times. In 2006, Birk was the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

Birk played in 190 games during his career — starting 167 of them. Congratulations on the career, Matt Birk.

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