Chris Snee, guard for the Giants, announces retirement.

Despite being the son-in-law of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, Chris Snee didn’t receive any special treatment during his tenure as an offensive guard for New York. Over the course of his 10 seasons with the Giants, he earned Pro Bowl honors four times. Remarkably, from 2005 to 2012, he started every one of the 127 games he played, missing only a single game during that eight-year span. However, last year, Snee was sidelined for 13 games due to injury, and on Monday, the 32-year-old announced his retirement.

“I know,” Snee remarked, “it’s time for me to step away.”

Initially planning to return for the 2014 season after undergoing surgery to repair his right elbow, Snee’s hopes were dashed when he found himself unable to participate in offseason workouts. Despite his efforts, his elbow failed to improve.

“Before OTAs started, I felt confident,” Snee recounted. “I was moving around well and felt strong enough to compete. But once OTAs began and I had to engage with opponents… obviously, we weren’t wearing pads, but it was still painful. I tried to brush it off, thinking it was just my joint readjusting, but as time went on, it became clear that my elbow wasn’t responding as it should, and my strength in the weight room was declining.”

After OTAs, Snee approached general manager Jerry Reese with thoughts of retirement, reaching his final decision last week. Although the Giants were willing to wait for his elbow to improve, Snee notified Coughlin of his decision on Saturday and informed Eli Manning the following day.

“Chris epitomized everything you could ask for in a player: toughness, integrity, and immense pride,” stated Giants owner John Mara. “Winning mattered to him. He set a remarkable example for his teammates, and his presence will be sorely missed. He was truly one of the greatest offensive linemen in Giants history and will undoubtedly find his place in the Ring of Honor someday.”

Coughlin echoed Mara’s sentiments, praising Snee as “the premier guard in football, bar none.” He lauded Snee’s ability to dominate opposing defensive tackles, regardless of their size or reputation.