NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The president of the NFL Players Association said he got one offer from a team this year. It came too late, and Kevin Mawae said Friday he decided being with family was more important than his passion to keep playing in the league.

The veteran offensive lineman announced his retirement from the NFL after 16 seasons and eight Pro Bowls in a news conference while standing in front of banners for the union and LSU, across the street from Vanderbilt University, where he has been working as a strength and conditioning intern.

NFLPA president Kevin Mawae wept as he announced his retirement from the NFL at a Friday news conference. AP Photo/The Tennessean, Jae S. Lee

A framed LSU jersey with Mawae's college number 52 stood to his left, a present from Tigers coach Les Miles who's in town for a game Saturday night.

"My brother reminded me I have nothing to prove nor do I have anything to lose in this decision," an emotional Mawae said. "I've done everything an NFL player can want to do except winning a championship. With that, I walk away from the NFL on my own terms and with the only regret that of not being a Super Bowl champion."

Mawae played for Tennessee last season, starting all 16 games and helping block for Chris Johnson as he ran for 2,006 yards. The starts gave Mawae 241 regular season games played, at that time the most among active linemen. He missed only three starts, in his rookie season with Seattle.

But his contract was up, the Titans went younger with Leroy Harris to replace Mawae, who turns 40 in January. He finished his career playing in his final Pro Bowl. He will serve out his term as union president, which ends in March 2012. Mawae felt his role as union president, with the league and union in the final year of their labor deal, limited interest in him.

"I'm the only ... Pro Bowler in the last two years not on a roster right now. It doesn't take a brainiac to figure that out," he said.

He did get a call from a team he did not name. Mawae said he discussed the issue with his agent, his wife Tracy and his pastor. But he said the mental wall players build to block out the physical aches and pains was down, and he didn't want to be separated from his 13-year-old son or 10-year-old daughter. He used a tissue from his daughter as he cried at times.