Indianapolis Colts fans aren’t the only ones hoping Pat McAfee changes his mind about retirement.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri admits he continues to ask his close friend and ex-teammate to reconsider last month’s decision to walk away from football at age 29 despite being one of the NFL's top punters.

Vinatieri’s most recent pitch came Tuesday during a telephone conversation.

"I’m still begging him to come back," Vinatieri said.

MORE: McAfee voted to SN's All-Pro team

Not long after Vinatieri was interviewed by co-host Bill Polian and me on SiriusXM NFL Radio, McAfee on Wednesday morning posted a photo on his Twitter account showing him prepped for surgery with the message, "Welp.. see ya later."

Welp.. see ya later pic.twitter.com/XHE54Fr5W3 — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 22, 2017

McAfee announced last month that he would soon be undergoing the third procedure in the past four years on his right knee because of an injury suffered during the 2016 season. Even though a specialist is considered a non-contact position, McAfee during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show cited the physical toll of playing football as part of his reason to retire.

"I felt like a 90-year-old man," McAfee said about the aftereffects of his latest right knee problem.

A fledgling stand-up comic, McAfee also wanted to pursue a media career with the Barstool Sports to expand his forays into the entertainment industry.

Halfway through the 2016 campaign, Vinatieri said McAfee approached him about quitting to "maybe pursuing a career in comedy and just going in another direction."

"I tried to talk him out of it," Vinatieri said. "I said, 'Man, do both (football and comedy). You're so good at punting. We need you. I need you.' That was selfish of me to even say that because whatever he wants to do — and I know he’s going to be so successful at this — I'm excited for him.

"I just miss him. I talked to him (Tuesday) and I was like, ‘Man, are you sure? It’s not the same without you, buddy.'"

The Colts may not be the same without McAfee, either. He led the NFL with a career-high 49.3-yard gross average along with a 42.7-yard net that ranked third among his punting peers. Opponents also averaged only 2.5 yards a return on McAfee's 55 punts.

"He was such a threat, pinning returners and putting the ball in the corner and inside the 10-yard line," Vinatieri said.

MORE: McAfee's retirement off to rough start

McAfee had additional value as one of the NFL's top kickoff specialists.

"He’s got every single trick in the kickoff book you can imagine with onside kicks," Vinatieri said. "He can kick it out of the back of the end zone or drop it on the goal-line. He’s such a great athlete and a major competitive type of person."

McAfee's departure also means Vinatieri must collaborate with a new holder, which means additional work for arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history in building chemistry with a replacement.

It’s unknown whether the Colts will expect a new punter and/or kickoff specialist to hold on extra points and field goals or shift those responsibilities to backup quarterback Scott Tolzien.

"I’ve got no idea," Vinatieri said. “It will be interesting to see for sure."

Players who retire as young as McAfee often have second thoughts as the season approaches. But if he wants to return to the Colts, McAfee would probably need to let new general manager Chris Ballard know soon, before a replacement is potentially signed in free agency or drafted.

Whatever path McAfee chooses won’t affect the bond Vinatieri has built with him over the past eight seasons.

"I wish him all the success in the world," Vinatieri said. “I love him like a brother. I'm sure he's going to do great.

"It's not the same not having him around. And like I told him, the true people aren't going to know how badly we miss you until you’re gone."

Alex Marvez can be heard from 7 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET Wednesday and Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.