Former Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o has announced an official decision on his playing career.
While Te'o had not played in the NFL in a couple of years, he had yet to make his playing career decision an official one. Now, he officially has done it.
The former Notre Dame star, who played in the NFL for several seasons, has officially retired.
"I'm playing a different game now. I'm trying to empower people. Trying to inspire people. That's the game that I'm playing now, and I'm trying to be the best at that," he told TMZ Sports.
Te'o, of course, was infamously involved in a catfishing scandal during his time at Notre Dame.
Deadspin reported in 2013 that Te'o's girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, didn't exist. Te'o reportedly helped perpetuate the story, claiming she existed and speaking about things that didn't happen, during his senior season at Notre Dame.
He then issued a statement:
"This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her.
"To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating.
"It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother's death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was.
"Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I'm looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft."
Te'o played in the NFL from 2013-20.