Former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz officially announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, telling Uninterrupted that he was ready to move on to the next phase in his life and career.

“The game of football has just given me so much,” Cruz said via Uninterrupted. “My journey hasn’t been the easiest; it’s definitely had some ups and downs, and some rough patches.

“This last chapter of my life was a great one. To win a Super Bowl, to play in a Pro Bowl and to have my daughter born throughout all of this as well.”

That next phase will start almost immediately as Cruz is set to join ESPN as an NFL analyst, where he’ll contribute to NFL Live, Get Up!, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and other ESPN properties.

“As I officially close one chapter of my life and begin another, I could not be more thrilled to join another championship team at ESPN,” Cruz said via ESPN media. “I’m excited to get started and share my insight and analysis with the viewers and fans of the NFL.”

Cruz will make his ESPN debut on Wednesday, August 22 at 9:00 a.m. ET hour on both Get Up! and SportsCenter.

“Victor is passionate about the NFL, and we’ve long been impressed with his ability to connect and engage with fans. He has a deep knowledge of the game and experience playing at the highest levels, so we expect him to be an impactful voice,” ESPN’s senior coordinating producer Seth Markman said.

In 70 career games, Cruz hauled in 303 receptions for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012, was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2011 and was a member of the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI championship team.