Giants defensive end Owa Odighizuwa is stepping away from the NFL. The former third-round pick took to Twitter moments ago to announce what could be termed as a soft retirement.

“I have all love for everyone.. at [this] point [in] time, I believe it’s in my best interest to take some time to get away from the game,” Odighizuwa wrote.

We heard earlier this year that this would be a “do-or-die offseason” for Odighizuwa. The 2015 third-rounder didn’t do much in his two NFL seasons and he acknowledged that he’d have to step it up in order to stick in New York.

“It’s real important for me,” Odighizuwa said. “That’s how I’m approaching it, that it’s kind of do-or-die in terms of my preparation and getting ready. You have to exhaust all of your resources into training properly and getting ready for the year. Really pouring everything you have into preparation.”

Odighizuwa had two years remaining on his Giants contract.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.